Archaeologists Discover Two Nearly Life-Size Statues Embedded in a Tomb Wall in Ancient Pompeii

Photo credit: www.smithsonianmag.com

The figures appear to represent a married couple. Experts think the woman, who is holding laurel leaves, may have been a priestess

Sonja Anderson – Daily Correspondent

April 2, 2025 2:29 p.m.

Recently, archaeologists uncovered two nearly life-sized statues within a tomb in a cemetery located near Porta Sarno, one of the gateways to ancient Pompeii. These artifacts, believed to date back to the Late Republican period of Rome (approximately between the second and first century B.C.E.), are thought to depict a couple who were interred at the site, according to findings from the Pompeii Archaeological Park.

The tomb is situated in a necropolis rich with cremation burials and features a wall embellished with niches that once housed funerary urns. The remarkable relief showcases a woman and a man standing together, a rare type of funerary sculpture for southern Italy, as noted by researchers in the park’s digital magazine.

Despite their initial interpretation as a married couple, the researchers caution that without an inscription, certainty is elusive. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the director of the archaeological park, pointed out that the figures could be more than just spouses, hinting at the possibility of a maternal link. “This could be her husband, but it could also be her son,” Zuchtriegel stated in an interview.

In detail, the male statue is adorned in a simple toga, while the female figure wears an elaborate cloak over a tunic, accessorized with jewelry that includes distinctive amphora-shaped earrings, a wedding ring, and bracelets. Notably, her necklace features a lunula pendant—a crescent moon symbol traditionally worn by Roman girls until they entered marriage, believed to offer protection against malevolent forces.

The woman’s right hand elegantly holds laurel leaves, historically used by Roman priestesses for ceremonial purification. In her left, she clutches a cylindrical object that may signify a scroll, indicating her potential elevated status within the community. Zuchtriegel speculated that the woman could represent an influential figure in Pompeii’s religious hierarchy, possibly a priestess of Ceres—goddess of agriculture, fertility, and motherly relationships.

Ceres played a crucial role in Roman spirituality, linked with agricultural cycles and the moon’s phases, aligning with the meaning of the lunula pendant adorned by the female statue. Zuchtriegel emphasized her likely prominence: “She really looks like a very important woman in the local elite.”

Researchers highlight that priestesses, as leaders of religious rites and processions, held the highest social status available to women in a society where their roles were otherwise confined primarily to domestic life. Sophie Hay, a British archaeologist involved in the investigation, echoed this sentiment, explaining that these priestesses would conduct rituals honoring Ceres, emphasizing the goddess’s widespread veneration due to her ties to fertility and new beginnings.

This discovery not only showcases the artistic skills of the time but also offers crucial insights into the religious practices and societal structure of Pompeii’s ancient inhabitants. The exceptional nature of the relief, coupled with the possibility of it representing a priestess, underscores Ceres’s significant role in the community’s formal religion.

Later in April, these remarkable funerary reliefs will be featured in an exhibition titled “Being a Woman in Ancient Pompeii” at the archaeological park, where specialists will demonstrate the cleaning and preservation processes of the statues, allowing visitors to engage more intimately with this unique glimpse into the past.

Source
www.smithsonianmag.com