Scientists from the National Institute for Archaeological Conservation Research (Inrap) discovered a figurine of Venus Anandiomene in a Roman dump in France. This has been reported area institute.
The artifacts were found in the city of Rennes, in northwest France. The city was founded by the Romans in the 1st century AD. There was a quarry here: the Romans needed building material. Later, the shale quarry was converted into a huge landfill. Inside they found many artifacts up to the age of 1800. Among them were figurines of the goddess Venus, a pottery furnace, coins and clothing pins.
Known as the goddess of love in Roman times, Venus became associated with emperors and was often a symbol of Roman power. One of the figurines depicts her ancestor (mother goddess) Venus with a body covered with cloth. The second better preserved figurine is Venus Anandiomen (rising from the sea): the goddess is naked and squeezing water from her hair with her right hand.
Scientists also discovered a 17th-century underground water pipe that supplied water to Rennes. Further excavations will help to learn more about the management of the site during the Gallo-Roman period, as well as the methods of quarrying.