Sculpture of the goddess Diana

Historiographic and archaeological research on the territory of today's Bosnia and Herzegovina confirms that ancient Romans spread their civilisation as they spread their territory. Their influence is also reflected in the spreading of their religious cults. 

Thanks to the research, one can make out the picture of religious life in the time of antiquity by looking at the archaeological materials in the collections of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina. People at the time worshipped local, Roman, Greek, and Eastern deities. Also evident from the materials is a process known as interpretatio romana, whereby deities of different geographic and cultural backgrounds but identical or similar attributes merged into single cults.

Metal sculptures of deities such as Priapus, Eros, or Apollo are few and therefore precious. Among them, this sculpture of the goddess Diana, found at Talež near Trebinje, has a place of distinction. It is characterised by fine workmanship and minute detail, and it shows Diana in a classical, heavily pleated Roman skirt, with her left leg slightly bent at the knee, while the right foot is raised and her weight is on her toes. The quality of workmanship and the stylistic features lead to the conclusion that the artefact was imported from one of the manufacturing centres in the Apennine Peninsula.