Ocharan, Iborra / Murcia Museum
Venus at sunset (left) seen from the ceremonial site where the so-called Goddess Salchita appeared (right), whose star on her chest suggests that the main deity venerated in the Cueva de la Nariz was Venus
A team of Spanish archaeologists has identified the name of the Iberian goddess linked to the cult of the planet Venus — the main female deity of the Iberians during the Iron Age.
In a new study, a team of researchers led by Daniel Iborra Pellinfrom the University of Alicante, sheds light on the name and cult of the Iberian Dea Materthe main female deity of the Iberians during the Iron Age.
According to , published in the magazine Completenessthis deity, symbol of fertility and associated with the planet Venus, was known as Iunstira name that reveals cultural and religious connections with other Mediterranean civilizations.
The discovery represents a significant advance in the study of Iberian religion, an area traditionally limited by lack of written sources clear and the challenges of deciphering the Iberian language.
The investigation combines archaeological, linguistic and astronomical data to propose that the term Iunstir, recurring in Iberian texts, corresponds to the name of this deity linked to fertility and the cosmos.
The study indicates that the Iberian andwas a central figure in spirituality Iberian. His cult would have been a local manifestation of universal traditions, influenced both due to Neolithic beliefs and interactions with Phoenician colonizers and other Mediterranean cultures.
Researchers suggest that the term Iunstir can be divided into two parts: “Iun”, possibly the name of the goddess, and “stir”, which means “star”. This structure is reminiscent of other astral deities venerated in the Mediterranean, such as Ishtar or Astarte, both associated with Venus.
The planet Venus, with its unique visibility cycle and its symbolic link to fertility, would have been central in the conception of the Iberian Dea Maternotes Iborra, quoted by .
This connection is reinforced by numerous archaeoastronomical finds in Iberian sanctuaries and necropolises, such as their directions to key points in the synodic cycle of Venus.
A Orientation of temples and sacred caves to Venus it is a fundamental aspect of discovery. At sites such as El Cigarralejo and La Osera in Spain, structures have been documented to align with astronomical events specific ones, such as the set of southern Venus.
According to the authors of the study, this fact indicates that the Iberians not only observed the sky with great precision, but also integrated this knowledge in their rituals and religious beliefs.
Among the most notable findings is the Nose Grottowhere the so-called Goddess of Salchitaa female figure with a star on her chest, possibly representing Venus. This representation reinforces the idea that the Iberian Dea Mater was deeply connected to this planet.
Another example is the so-called Verdolay glassfound near the sanctuary of La Luz in Murcia, where astral decorations suggest rituals dedicated to a female deity. The orientation of the temple towards the southern Venus cluster confirms the importance of Venus in the vision of the Iberian world.
The term Iunstir is not new in studies of Iberian epigraphy, but its meaning has been the subject of numerous theories. Some researchers interpreted it as a honorary title or even as a ritual formula.
However, Iborra’s team argues that it is a theonymthat is, the name of a deitybased on its prominent position in the texts and its association with the term neitin, another possible Iberian deity.
Furthermore, the phonetic analysis of Iunstir suggests similarities with words related to the divine in other ancient languages, such as the Basque “Jaun” (lord) or Indo-European terms associated with stars. The hypothesis that Iunstir is the designation of a great Iberian female deity is increasingly solidconcludes the author.
