To the question of expansion of the pontic syncretic cult of Mēn—Mithra—Attis in Bosporus

Abstract

The objects of study are the terracotta figurines, discovered in Tanais and on the periphery of Remontnoye village, Rostov Oblast, which are dated 1st c. BCE — 1st c. CE. Iconographic and morphological analysis interprets the figurines as depictions of Mēn, Mithra and Attis. Their syncretic cult found its way in the region from Pont in 2nd c. BCE. The connection of these cults with the Kabeiri’s earlier cult of agricultural deities can be clearly observed. As for the studied figurines, the fact that they were discovered on Lower Don, as well as in remote regions of Rostov Oblast, demonstrates that this Pontic syncretic cult was popular among settlers of the eastern periphery of Bosporan Kingdom and neighboring territories in 1st c. BCE — 1st c. CE.

Keywords

• bosporus
• pontic cults
• kabeiri
• mēn
• mithras
• attis
• terracotta figurine-marionette
• myst