Archaeologists have unearthed evidence of Egyptian religious influence in Spain, including a figurine of the goddess Isis, during excavations at the ancient Roman settlement of Pagus Belsinonensis in Mallén, located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragón.
A Roman Settlement with a Rich History
Pagus Belsinonensis was established on the hill of El Convento, near the Huecha River. During the Roman era, it served as a key stop for travelers along the route connecting Tarragona to Astorga.
As part of the ongoing Belsinon Project, excavations have brought to light a small statue of Isis, the revered Egyptian goddess associated with protection, magic, motherhood, healing, and fertility. In Egyptian tradition, she also played the divine role of the Pharaoh’s mother.
Isis in the Roman Pantheon
By the 1st century BCE, the cult of Isis had been fully integrated into Roman religious practices. She was honored with distinct ceremonies, such as the annual Navigium Isidis, a festival celebrating her role as a protector of sailors and travelers. Her worship spread throughout the Roman world and continued well into the early Christian period, before being overshadowed by the empire’s new dominant faith.
The discovery of the Isis figurine at Pagus Belsinonensis provides compelling evidence that her worship reached this region by the late 1st or early 2nd century CE.
A Rare Household Idol
According to a study published in the latest volume of SAGVNTVM, the figurine is crafted from sigillata hispánica, a type of fine, glossy pottery produced in workshops at Tritium Magallum—modern-day Tricio in the province of La Rioja.
Such figurines were typically placed in household shrines known as lararia, dedicated spaces where Romans made offerings to deities for the protection of their homes and families.
“To identify the deity represented in the Mallén figurine, we had to analyze it under a microscope,” explains archaeologist Ángel Santos.
“The statue is painted with a white pigment symbolizing the goddess’s robe. Upon closer examination, we discovered a well-preserved detail: the distinctive tripartite locks of hair at the center of her garment—one of Isis’s most recognizable attributes,” Santos adds.
A Glimpse into Religious Influence in Roman Spain
According to the researchers, this discovery offers new insights into the spread of Eastern religious traditions and the presence of Egyptian cult practices within domestic life in Roman-era Spain.
This small yet significant artifact sheds light on the cultural and religious exchanges that shaped the ancient Mediterranean world—revealing how the worship of a powerful Egyptian goddess found a place in the hearts and homes of Roman Spaniards.
