Images of God Attis from the Northern Black Sea: Features and problems of iconography

Information about sculptural monuments found in the Northern Black Sea region, which are usually associated with the cult of the God of Asia Minor Attis, was collected and analyzed here. Among them, there are eight different iconographic types: Attis with the Mother of the Gods (Cybele); traditional images of Attis; Attis-Erot; a boy sitting sideways on a rooster, identified as Mеn Attis; Mitra-Attis Tavrokton; a man with a sword over his bare genitals; boy-rider; Attis — Kriophoros. Their sculptural characteristics are made. It is argued that only the first six of the above types are directly or indirectly related to the indication of belief. As for the syncretic image of Attis-Eros, the significant influence of Eros’s iconography on the creation of statues of Attis is pointed out — a fact that took place in many regions of the ancient world. The existence of certain parallels between the cults of Cybele and Attis, Aphrodite and Eros is demonstrated in the article. It is established that there are no facts on the basis of which it is possible to connect the figures of a boy sitting on a rooster with the Asia Minor God of the moon Men. Such a composition is more likely to be classified as Erot-Attis. It is noted that iconography of the same type could have influenced the creation of the image of Mitra-Attis Tavrokton, known only in the Bosporus. It has been suggested that the statuette of a man with a sword over his naked genitals does not represent Attis himself, but his city just before he performs self-sacrifice in the name of his god. This monument dated to the border of V-IV centuries BC, may be the oldest evidence of the penetration of the cult of Attis in the study area. The last two of the above types by all indications are related to other beliefs. The statuette of a boy-rider probably points to Mitra, and a young man carrying a sheep on his shoulders indicates on Hermes-Kriophoros.

Source: Korchak А. (2022). Images of God Attis from the Northern Black Sea: Features and problems of iconography. Antiquities of Lukomorie. 2: 29-41

Source web-site: http://www.lukomor.mosk.mksat.net/index.php/lukomor/article/view/144/137