A snake-headed vessel hints at a mysterious Roman cult
The ancient Romans were a deeply religious and superstitious people, worshiping dozens of cults—some official and others secretive. One of these was dedicated to Sabazios, a deity from Thrace and Phrygia (regions spanning parts of the modern-day Balkans and Turkey).
In northeastern Spain, archaeologists have uncovered fragments of a unique vessel in a Roman villa that sheds light on a mysterious cult. The broken pieces, found at Collet, include a handle shaped like a two-headed serpent, which is characteristic of the worship of Sabazios, a deity from Thrace and Phrygia. This discovery suggests that the obscure cult reached rural areas within the Roman Empire.
The vessel was buried during the reign of Emperor Augustus, around 27 BCE to 14 CE, making it an early example of Iberian serpent-ware. By comparing the handle with other ritual objects, researchers determined that the pot's imagery, combined with nearby Sabazios-related evidence, supports early private worship of Sabazios in rural Iberia, despite snakes being a symbol in other Roman cults.
The finding implies that this exotic eastern cult was not limited to urban settings, but could have constituted extensive cultic networks throughout the Roman Empire.
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