Thirteen terracotta figurines unearthed in Pompeii resemble a nativity scene

During excavations at Pompeii's House of Leda and the Swan, archaeologists discovered thirteen terracotta statuettes in an adjacent room, arranged as if on a shelf. The figurines, each about 15 cm tall, were found upright on a horizontal surface at a height of over 2 meters above the floor, likely in the house's atrium. The collection includes human figures, a walnut, an almond, a clay rooster's head, and a remarkably preserved glass pinecone. According to the E-journal of the Pompeii excavations, the objects appear to be part of a ritual installation, with some figures referencing the myth of Cybele and Attis, connected to the seasonal cycle and fertility. The glass pinecone specifically recalls a ritual where priests would strike their chests with pinecones during ceremonies commemorating Attis's death. The excavation also revealed a finely frescoed room with four roundels depicting female faces. The site is being prepared for public access.