Kendrisos, Rider-Patron of Philippopolis
Thracian · deity · Roman period Thrace; patron of Philippopolis (Plovdiv), 2nd 3rd c. CE · Recorded classification
Native Thracian Rider-god absorbed into Apollo as a city-patron; though given Apollo's name, his iconography stayed that of the Thracian Horseman, marking him as a distinct local deity. Classified 'deity'. Native theonym survives in the Greek-transmitted epithet Kendrisos/Kendreisenos.
Domains
- city protection
- prophecy and oracles
Powers
- guards and patronizes the city
Epithets
- Ἀπόλλων Κενδρισος Apollo Kendrisos, patron of PhilippopolisAltar of Bithys to Apollo Kendrisos, Philippopolis (IGBulgaria III 918) (primary)
- Κενδρεισηνος variant local form of the epithetInscriptions of Philippopolis (IGBulgaria) (primary)
Sources
- Kendrisos is a Thracian Rider-god syncretized with Apollo as the patron deity of Philippopolis (Plovdiv), with the local epithet attached to Apollo (Apollo Kendrisos/Kendreisenos) and a civic festival, the Kendreiseia Pythia.: Inscriptions and coins of Philippopolis (Apollo Kendrisos / Kendreiseia games) (primary)