Identifier: greatmotherofgo00show (find matches)
Title: The Attis from Ostia
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Showerman, Grant, 1870-1935
Subjects: Cybele (Goddess) Mythology, Classical
Publisher: Madison
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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s of the universe; in which case the gift of a silver image of the moon by a priest, as well as the phrases Troi^v Acvkcov acr-rpwv, ao-repuTos ttIXos, Attis Xevkos would possess a significance which they do not have when we think of Attis only as the shepherd-lover or as the symbol of vegetation. 82 The interpretation of Attis as a symbol of the sun, or as having a cosmic significance, was a product of syncretism. The task of transforming the Phrygian companion of the Mother into such a symbol, however, was from the natur eof the case of little difficulty. First, the Mother herself had long been regarded as the earth; second, the time of the principal ceremonies of the cult, the March equinox, naturally lent an astronomical significance to the deities honored; and third, the legend of a Great Mother with a son and daughter Helios and Selene had become current long 81 C. I. L. VI 499 sqq., 508, 511. ^Ibid. IX 3146; Hippol. Bef. V 9; Jul. Or. V 135 B; Babr. Fab.CXXVI; RoschQrs Lex. s. v. Attis 720.
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c a 33 o SHOWERMAN — THE GREAT MOTHER. 289 before. Diodorus III 57 records the tale. Basileia, the daughter of Ge, was called the Great Mother because of her motherly care for her brothers after the death of Ge. Such was her sagacity that after the death of her father she was entrusted with the government of the land. Influenced by the desire to leave heirs to the throne, she finally wedded Hyperion, and bore Helios and Selene, both marvels of beauty and wisdom. Her brothers, however, fearing that Hyperion would possess the realm, slew him and drowned Helios in the Eridanus. Selene, grief-stricken at her loss, destroyed herself, while Basileia, searching by the river for the body of Helios, swooned and had a vision in which her son bade her not to mourn, for her children were to become beings of immortal nature, and the sun, hitherto called the sacred fire, was now to be called Helios, and the moon Selene, instead of Mene. Regaining consciousness, Basileia recounted her dream, gave command

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