Page:History of Art in Phrygia, Lydia, Caria and Lycia.djvu/49

CUSTOMS AND RELIGION OF THE PHRYGIANS. 33 about to descend. As he was let down, the throng broke forth in wails and sobs, beating their breasts and tearing their hair. 1 In their religious frenzy, some lashed themselves with scourges furnished with bones that tore off great pieces of flesh, and fell a sacrifice to the deity; 2 others went further and offered their virility, dedi- cating the rest of their wretched ex- istence to the god who had accepted their self -mutila- tion. 3 Thus each of these festivals swelled the number of eunuch -priests, who on public oc- casions were wont to lead the chorus of the devotees of Cybele. Under FIG. 4. Archi-Gallus. Capitoline Museum. DURUY, Hist, des i r , Remains, torn. ii. p. 528.' the name of Grseco- Galli, they it was who during Persian, notably Roman rule, carried far and wide the rites and practices of the old Asiatic cults (Fig- 4). 1 Mao-Ti do-i-payoAtoTr; (PLUTARCH, Contra Colo(es, xxxiii. 9). Consult also APULEIUS, Metam., viii. 28. 8 SUETONIUS (Otho, viii.) writes that as Otho moved against Vitelius, "die quo cultores deum matris lamentari et plangere incipiunt." 8 Acuto silice (Catul., xliii. 5); rupta testa (Juvenal, vi. 514). We find here, too, the sacredness of stone, in connection with the idea of sacrifice, as against metal (Hist, of Art, torn. iv. p. 373). It will be seen that the epithet semi viri, applied to the priests of Cybele by the Romans, was well deserved. With Italian brevity, the day of flagellations and self-mutilation was indicated in the calendar by a single but pithy word, "Sanguem." Julian's account of the "mysteries of the mother of the gods" (p. 1 68) coincides with the calendar, except that he omits to mention the two last days, i.e. Requies and Lavatio. 4 The effeminate character of the eunuch-priest will be observed. From his ears depend heavy earrings ; a diadem surrounds his brow, formed by three large coins that serve to keep in place the head-tire, which falls in rich folds behind his back. Long rows of pearls on either side of the face reach to his middle, where they rest in the horizontal folds of the shawl, and in a basket brimful of fruit, which he VOL. I. D