Attis in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Attis

7 passages from 6 ancient authors that tell of Attis, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. In Greek mythology, Attis was the consort of the goddess Cybele. Originally a deity in the region of Phrygia, the cult of Attis and Cybele eventually ... For the story in one place, read our article on Attis.

Ovid (1)

Ovid, Fasti 4.179–246Fasti 4: The Megalesia: Cybele and AttisOvid announces the coming Megalesia, and the Muse Erato answers his questions. She explains the din of drums and cymbals by the tale of Cronus (Saturn), the stone and the infant Zeus (Jupiter) on Ida, then the lions and turreted crown, and the story of Attis, who broke his vow, went mad and mutilated himself.

Pausanias (2)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 7.17.1–14Dyme: Oebotas, Sostratus and the story of AttisPausanias reviews how Greece sank to its lowest weakness, from Argos and Athens to Thebes, Sparta and the Achaean League, and how Nero freed Greece but Vespasian restored tribute. He then describes Dyme, on the Larisus boundary with Elis, with its statue of Oebotas, the grave of the youth Sostratus loved by Hercules, and a temple of Athena. In the sanctuary of Dindymene and Attis he gives two accounts of Attis, the Lydian one by Hermesianax and the popular story of Agdistis. He ends with the curse of Oebotas, which kept Achaeans from Olympic victory until he was honoured.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 7.20.1–9Patrae: Dionysus Aesymnetes and the sanctuaries of the market-placePausanias describes the god in the chest, Dionysus Aesymnetes, served by nine men and nine women, and the children who go down to the Milichus wreathed in corn or ivy. He lists the temples and images of Patrae: Panachaean Athena in the Laphria enclosure, Mother Dindymene and Attis, Olympian Zeus, and an Apollo with an ox skull, with Homer cited for Apollo herding cattle. He also names the Music Hall, second only to that of Herodes at Athens, the gate with statues of Patreus and Preugenes, and the Lady of the Lake brought from Sparta.

Nonnus of Panopolis (1)

Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 25.271–379Book 25: Dionysos downcast; Rheia's message and shieldThe Indian city mourns its dead, a blind old man is cured by the wine-stained river, and the scent of the vine spreads through the streets. Dionysos, kept from battle by Hera's jealousy, is visited by Attis, who brings a shield made by Hephaistos for Rheia and tells him that the Indian city will fall in the seventh year of the war.

Herodotus (1)

Herodotus, Histories 1.34–45Atys and AdrastusA dream told Croesus that his son Atys would die by an iron spear-point, so he kept weapons away from him. Adrastos, a Phrygian who had killed his brother, was cleansed by Croesus and made guardian of Atys on a boar hunt. Adrastos' spear missed the boar and killed Atys. Croesus forgave him, but Adrastos killed himself upon the tomb.

Strabo (1)

Strabo, Geography 5.2.1–2Etruria: Tyrrhenus and the TarquinsStrabo outlines the lands of Liguria, Tyrrhenia, Ombrica, the Sabini and Latium along the Tiber. He gives the Lydian tradition of Tyrrhenus, son of Atys (himself a descendant of Heracles (Hercules) and Omphale), who led a colony from Lydia and founded twelve cities under Tarcon. Demaratus, who came with people from Corinth, and his son Tarquinius Priscus are said to have brought Tyrrhenian customs to Rome, and Porsena of Clusium is mentioned.

Virgil (1)

Virgil, Aeneid 5.545–603The Troy gameAeneas sends Epytides to tell Ascanius (Iulus) to lead his troop of boy riders onto the cleared field. The boys ride in under three captains, with Priam, Atys and Ascanius named among the leaders. They split into bands, charge, retreat and wheel in intricate patterns like a labyrinth or dolphins at play. The text adds that Ascanius later taught this game to the people of Alba Longa and that Rome still keeps it as the Troy game.