A press conference at the Education Hall of the Archaeological Museum of Istria on 30 October 2025 featured the first public showing of the Sleeping Cupid sculpture. This is an exceptionally valuable archaeological discovery made the previous week in downtown Pula's Castropola Street. The unique find has already been described as one of the most significant archaeological discoveries made in recent years in Pula and the broader region.
The sculpture was presented by archaeologist Aleksandra Paić of the In situ company, who made the discovery, AMI Director Darko Komšo, AMI Roman Period Collection head Silvana Petešić, and Aleksandar Knežević, a representative of the investor.
Director Komšo underscored that this is a masterpiece of ancient art, ranking it among the three most valuable sculptures in the museum collection. The sculpture was found almost intact. One of the wings has broken off the piece, but will be restored to its former place. Komšo noted that conservation and laser cleaning will follow, after which the sculpture will be incorporated into the museum's permanent exhibition, adding that this find transcends the local scope and has national importance.
Archaeologist Aleksandra Paić spoke about the moment of discovery, noting that the sculpture was found at the end of the workday, at a depth of about three meters, in the collapse layer of an ancient domus. Investigation at the location has been ongoing for over a year and a half and has revealed a luxurious room richly furnished with marble and frescoes. Investigation continues with the aim of better understanding the purpose of the space and the context of the find.
Silvana Petešić discussed the artistic and cultural context of the sculpture, stating that it is a naked winged boy, a depiction of one of the Erotes, made of white fine-grained marble. The figure lies on a lion's skin, with its head resting on the lion's head, and a small lizard is depicted next to it—a rare motif present in only about twenty similar sculptures in Europe. The sculpture can be dated to the 2nd century CE with high certainty, and the splendour of the domus further confirms its exceptional value.
On behalf of the investor, Aleksandar Knežević thanked the archaeologists for their cooperation and emphasised the importance of conducting archaeological investigation ahead of construction, noting that the future use of the space has yet to be determined.
The discovery of the Sleeping Cupid once again confirms the wealth of Pula's archaeological heritage and the importance of systematic investigation. After restoration, the sculpture will be incorporated into the AMI Permanent Exhibition, accessible to the public as one of the most representative works of ancient sculpture found in the broader region.
