Bronze Statuette of Attis

Culture: Roman

Period: 2nd century A.D.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 9.7 cm high

Price: Sold

Ref: 3411

Provenance: Swiss private collection Basel, acquired in a Munich auction house.

Condition: Both hands and feet are missing.

Description: Roman bronze statuette of the Phrygian god Attis, Cybele’s lover. The youthful god with a Phrygian cap and oriental robe in a striding position. The statuette was possibly part of the Cybele- and Attis cult. When Attis leaves Cybele to marry the daughter of King Pessinus, the goddess gets very angry, drives Attis insane and emasculates him. The youthful god bleeds to death, but Zeus ensures that his corpse never decays. In the Roman cult of the dead Attis was the symbol of mourning of the deceased. Mounted.