Roman Women's Sanctuary Discovered in Spanish Cave with 110 Latin Inscriptions

A team of researchers from the University of Alicante and other institutions has discovered that a chamber within Spain's Cova de les Dones served as a Roman sanctuary dedicated to a female deity approximately 2,000 years ago. Situated near Millares in Valencia, this cave features over 110 Latin inscriptions, marking it as the site with the highest density of such inscriptions in a Roman cave sanctuary. Among these, five are dedicated to a goddess named Domina, while three reference MALACI, a term currently being studied. Artifacts such as female names, jewelry, chalices, ceramics, animal bones, and spindle whorls suggest significant female involvement in the cult. The chamber, located more than 650 feet from the cave's entrance, was used for formal worship and also contains Iron Age artifacts and Paleolithic artwork, including animal representations.