Stone carving of Rhea-Cybele and Attis
National Archeological Museum, Athens, GreeceMaterial: Pentelic marble
Date range: AD 360-370
Origin: Probably from Chalandri (ancient Phlya), Attica
This altar was used for the cult of Rhea-Cybele and Attis during sacred mystery celebrations. The carving shows the goddess placing her hand on Attis to show their close religious bond.
Pine trees flank the figures and hold religious symbols like a panpipe and a drum. These items were used by worshippers to create music during holy ceremonies and divination.
A man named Archelaos built this altar to honor the gods after his religious initiation. It served as a sacred place for the ritual of Taurobolia during the reign of Julian the Apostate.
This is museum no. 1747.
Museum label reference:
1746, 1747. Taurobolic altars. Pentelic marble. Probably from Chalandri (ancient Phlya), Attica. The altars are associated with the cult of Rhea-Cybele and Attis and more specifically with the mystery celebration of the Taurobolia. Three sides are decorated with relief representations and there is an inscription on the fourth.
1746. One side depicts Rhea-Cybele enthroned, her right hand resting on the shoulder of Attis, who is shown leaning on a kalaurops, a staff used in cult ceremonies and for divination. The figures are flanked by pine-trees from which hang their symbols (a panpipe, drum and castanets). On the other side is a depiction of Cybele enthroned with Demeter to her right. They are flanked by Iakkhos, god of the procession of initiates to the Eleusinian Mysteries, and Kore-Persephone. The third side has a representation of two crossed torches and various symbols. Two epigrams are inscribed on the fourth side. The first states that Archelaos of Athens, torch-bearer of Persephone at Lerna and key-bearer of Hera, erected the altar to Attis and Rhea in return for his initiation into the Taurobolia Mysteries.
In the second epigram, Archelaos is said to have been the first to celebrate the Taurobolia on this particular site. The altar dates from the decade AD 360–370, possibly from the reign of the emperor Julian the Apostate (AD 361–363).
1747. The altar has reliefs similar to those of inv. no. 1746. The inscription mentions that the altar was dedicated by Mousonios as a symbol of the ceremony of the Taurobolion. It is evident from the calendar references in the inscription that the altar was erected on 27 May AD 387.
Supplementary images:
Marble relief of Rhea-Cybele enthroned with Attis from a taurobolic altar
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