Dea Syria
Dea Syria , the Syrian goddess , was a deity similar to the Phrygian Cybele with an important temple in Hierapolis Bambyke (Manbog). The most detailed description of their cult in this place in the work De Dea Syria is ascribed to Lukian of Samosata .
The original name of the goddess was Atargatis (syr. Tgrt ' ), but it is also often reproduced as Derketo , but the most common name in Roman times is the name without a name as a Syrian goddess. In the Roman Empire it is often equated with the Cybele , whose cult was already more recognized. In Apuleius she is referred to by the nickname Cybele, but called her "sister". Iconographically, she is shown sitting on a lion or a throne flanked by lions, together with her male partner ( Hadad ) and often also an aniconical cult mark, which Lukian calls a semeion. This is similar to a Roman standard, but apparently goes back to older local ideas.
The Dea Syria is - probably in confusion with Derketo - represented as a being whose lower body is like a fish.
In contrast to the cult of other goddesses in Syria, there was no cult prostitution in their cult; self-castration and ecstatic self-flagellation were part of their worship. Also Säulenheilige were part of her cult. Their priests were eunuchs with long hair, brightly colored robes and made-up eyes.
Suetonius reports in his imperial servants that the cult of the Syrian goddess was the only god cult that Nero did not despise until one day he even contaminated this idol with urine.
Web links
- Lukian: From the Syrian goddess (transl. Wieland)
- Franz Cumont : Dea Syria . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume IV, 2, Stuttgart 1901, Col. 2236-2243.
References and comments
- ↑ The Syrian Goddess
- ↑ Julius Rosenbaum : History of the lust epidemic in antiquity together with detailed studies of the Venus and phallic cults, brothels, Νούσος ϑήλεια of the Scythians, paederasty and other sexual excesses of the ancients as contributions to the correct explanation of their writings . 7th edition, H. Barsdorf, Berlin 1904, pp. 227-229
- ^ Suetonius: Nero 56