Etruscan goddess Uni face unearthed at Pyrgi sanctuary

Archaeologists from Sapienza Università di Roma have unearthed a terracotta fragment depicting the face of Uni, the primary female deity of the Etruscan pantheon. The find was located at the Pyrgi sanctuary, an ancient port near the Etruscan city of Caere (modern-day Cerveteri) on the Tyrrhenian coast.

The artifact is an antefix, a decorative element used on the edges of ancient temple roofs. It was discovered during excavations at Temple B, a monumental structure built in the late 6th century BCE by Thefarie Velianas, the supreme magistrate of Caere, who dedicated the temple to the goddess Uni.

The Pyrgi sanctuary, spanning over ten hectares, remains one of the most significant religious centers of Etruria. This discovery adds to the historical understanding of the site's architectural decoration, complementing other major finds such as the Pyrgi Gold Leaves.