Sex god riding a dolphin among finds unearthed in Italy

During excavations in southern Italy, a team of archaeologists discovered numerous figures made of terracotta, some of which are very well preserved.

The finds were found in a small temple that archaeologists had already excavated in 2019 and are part of the Archaeological Park of Paestum and Velia, in the Italian province of Salerno.

They are “small masterpieces of craftsmanship,” said a statement from the archaeological park. They shed “a very interesting light on ancient religious life,” said director general of state museums, Massimo Osanna.

Eros in a Dolphin

In addition to seven bull heads and several miniature temples and altars, a representation of the Greek god of love, Eros, riding a dolphin was also found.

Eros only occasionally played a role in religious acts, but he appears as a popular figure with increasing frequency throughout antiquity and the following centuries. Paestum’s “Eros” dates from the first decades of the 5th century BC.

The god of love was called Cupid or Love by the Romans and is the son of Aphrodite (Venus) and the god of war Ares. He is the youngest of the gods.

In classical Greek times, Eros was usually a handsome young man. Later, he was portrayed as a playful boy, sometimes represented with a duck, sometimes with a dolphin – sometimes hugged by the animal, sometimes leaning on it or riding on it. Dolphins were considered sacred animals in ancient Greece and held a special place in the hearts of the heavenly gods. Anyone who treated them badly would incur their wrath.

Among the Romans, sea creatures did not enjoy a deeper mythological significance.

Mythological dolphins?

However, there were countless legends about boys riding dolphins and about close emotional bonds between humans and dolphins. Thus, in some legends, dolphins mourn the death of someone they love for years.

In addition to the statuettes and other recently excavated decorative elements, a stone slab was unearthed, on which perhaps liquids such as the blood of animals sacrificed during religious rites in front of the altar could be collected, explained park director Tiziana D’Angelo.

The city of Paestum was founded around 600 BC by the Greeks under the name of Poseidonia. Almost three centuries later, the Romans conquered the city.

The archaeological site is located about 100 kilometers southeast of Naples and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for its well-preserved temples from Greek times. “The discovery of hundreds of offerings, statues and altars in the small temple of Paestum confirms the extraordinary value of this site,” said Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano.

In addition to the archaeological site of Paestum, the ancient Greek port city of Elea is also part of the Archaeological Park of Paestum and Velia. It is also called Velia after its Roman name.

This article was originally written in German.