Agdistis

Phrygian primordial androgyne of the Pessinus myth, born from the earth-rock Agdos and unmanned by the gods; the almond from its severed parts engendered Attis, whom Agdistis loved and drove to self-castration. Closely identified with Cybele (the Mother of Pessinus was called Agdistis).

Domains

• death and rebirth

Powers

• Engender Attis from the severed body
• Strike with frenzy and drive to self-mutilation

Epithets

• Ἄγδιστις Greek · Agdistis · cultthe (deity) of the rock Agdos / Mother of PessinusPausanias, Description of Greece 7.17.10; Strabo, Geography 12.5.3 (primary)
• Μήτηρ Ἄγδιστις Greek · Meter Agdistis · cultMother AgdistisLydian cult inscriptions (e.g. the sacred law of Dionysios at Philadelphia, LSAM 20) (primary)

Relations

• lover: AttisLoved the beautiful Attis and in jealousy drove him to the self-castration and death beneath the pine that the Galli re-enacted.Pausanias, Description of Greece 7.17.10-12 (primary)
• equated with: CybeleAt Pessinus the Mother-goddess herself was called Agdistis; Pausanias and the aetiology identify Agdistis with Cybele, whose eunuch Galli the Attis myth explains.Pausanias, Description of Greece 7.17.9-12 (primary); Roller, In Search of God the Mother (1999) (secondary)

Sources

• existence: Pausanias, Description of Greece 7.17.9-12 (primary); Arnobius, Adversus Nationes 5.5-7 (primary); Roller, In Search of God the Mother (1999) (secondary)