A miniature bronze figurine of the Illyrian goddess, found by accident in the late 19th century in Sovići (Goranci) near Mostar, is a valuable discovery from Illyrian times. It is believed to date back to the 3rd BC.
The bronze goddess with an elongated body, broken legs and one arm has perforated breasts and covers the intimate parts of her body with her left hand.
Archaeologist Borivoj Čović explains the figurine as a representation of a cult goddess, which was most likely imported to the Delmatian area. A rustic workmanship, pronounced asymmetry and reduction indicate the possibility of original artistic expression, and it may be assumed that the statue is an indigenous version of the goddess Venus pudice.
The figurine is exhibited in the permanent exhibition of the prehistoric collection in the Museum of the Franciscan Monastery of St. Anthony of Padua in Humac, the oldest museum in Bosnia and Herzegovina, founded in 1884.It is recorded that the bronze figurine was donated to the museum by Fr. Andrija Nuić on November 13, 1891. Its replica is exhibited in the permanent exhibition of the Croatian Franciscan Archaeological Collection of St. Stephen the First Martyr in Gorica near Grude. (Željka Šaravanja)
