Large Bronze Statue of Attis in Phrygian Costume

Culture: Roman

Period: 2nd century A.D.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 30.7 cm high

Price: 24 000 Euro

Ref: 3663

Provenance: Christie's London on 8 April 1998, lot 214. There acquired by Royal-Athena Gallery, New York. In 2007 acquired by a French collection. On 1 August 2011 with Collin du Bocage auction Paris, lot 72. Thence in the collection Gilles Grimm, Paris. On 18 December 2018 with Aguttes Paris, lot 75. Last with Bonhams London on 7 December 2021, lot 106. Accompanied by a French antiquities passport.

Condition: The separately worked out Phrygian cap missing, otherwise perfectly preserved.

Description: Large and important solid Roman bronze statue of Attis, the handsome youthful lover of goddess Cybele. He stands straight and has his arms stretched forward. He holds cymbals in his hands. The music instrument belongs to the Attis cult, who was described with its secret rites by the Christian Clemens from Alexandria around 200 A.D. Attis wears a tunica flared at the back, which uncovers his upper body. The striking trousers (“anaxyride”) correspond to the Phrygian costume, are belted on top and knotted along the legs in such a way that exposed parts of the skin are bare. See for comparison the marble Attis statue in the Uffizi Gallery (inventory 1914 no. 84). The hair towers in two rows of curls and is knotted at the back. Some strands cascade on the sides to the shoulder. The today missing Phrygian cap was worked out from a different material (gold?) and affixed on the calotte. The high-quality and detailed workmanship suggests that the statue was used during ceremonies for Cybele- and Attis cults. The highlight were the yearly Ludi Megalenses, which were superseded after Emperor Claudius by the Matronalia and were celebrated with offerings, chariot races and theatre plays. Attis, who emasculated himself, after his jealous lover had driven him mad, was considered a god for fertility, who had to fertilize “Mother Earth” Cybele with his blood, so that the world could come into being. The cult survived the early Christian turmoil and was only dissolved in 431 at the Council of Ephesus, when Maria was declared as God mother. Thence the time of the Great God Mother Cybele and her lover was over. Mounted.