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Important Bronze Statue of Attis
Circa Mid 1st Century AD
Description: An important bronze figure of the god Attis, a rarely found Roman deity, with green patina and deeply incised lines of detail. Adorned with a traditional phrygian cap with upturned ear flaps and a cape that is brooched at his sternum and sways back over his shoulders, falling to his ankles. Curls flow from beneath his cap to frame a full face with delineated brows, eyes, nose and full mouth, as he looks to the left. His naked torso is detailed with gentle musculature. His left hand is raised above his head with the right dropped to waist-level, both once held attributes, possible fruit or a horn-of-plenty. He stands, left foot forward with an orb beneath his step, and right foot slightly crossed behind the left. Custom mounted.
Attis, grandson to Cybele, was born through a labrynthine series of events. Cybele's son was mutilated, and from his blood an almond tree sprung. Nana, daughter of the river Sangarius, ate an almond from this tree and Attis was delivered from the river. Attis was raised, at first, among wild goats, eventually to be taken in by shepherds. He grew up to be a young man of exquisite beauty, equal to Adonis, and became an object of the goddess, Agdistis's affection. However, when Agdistis learned of Attis's desire to marry the mortal princess of the King of Pessinus in Phrygia, the goddess drove Attis to madness. He fled to the mountains, and in his mania, castrated himself beneath a pine tree. The pine tree took up his spirit, while his blood nourished violets that would garland the tree. Agdistis, in realizing what she had done, begged Zeus to keep Attis's beauty in tact. In this way, Attis never decayed, his hair continually growing and his pinky finger forever twitching. The youthful god was entombed within Mount Dindymus in the sanctuary of Cybele.
Height: 4.25 in. (10.5 cm)
Condition: Excellent and intact except small chips from right forefingers and a small loss at the back of the Phrygian hat. Nice old patina.
Provenance: Ex-Royal Athena Gallery, NY, 1990, then in the renowned Morven Collection, one of the finest late 20th Century collections of ancient bronzes, assembled from 1977 through June of 2004. This collection included and excellent survey of ancient bronze art from Egypt, Greece, Etruria and the Roman Empire, and was dispersed in 2004.
Reference: See PECK p. 164-165 for a the story of Attis. Also see VERMASEREN p. 88-95 & pl. 34, 62 & 76 for discussion and examples of Attis in art.
Background: Attis was a Phrygian god of vegetation, closely associated with resurrection. He was an icon of burial societies, guilds of dendrophoroi (tree-bearers) and the cults of Cybele. Attis was made an official deity under the Emperor Claudius (Reign 41- 54 AD), and is believed to have been exalted as an all powerful solar deity in the later part of the Roman Empire. Priests, each year at the beginning of Spring, would venerate Cybele and Attis by bearing a violet covered felled pine tree amidst ardent raucous displays of sorrow. On the third day of mourning Attis would resurrect, purifying Cybele from the contagion of death, and the priests would celebrate and feast. Priests who revered Cybele and Attis, must castrate themselves to be in the deities' service.
Price: $ 8,500
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