#king of phrygia

[xoxochb]

greek icons - king midas. king of phrygia. golden touch. blessed by dionysus

‘your midas touch on the chevy door, november flush and your flannel cure’ - taylor swift

[tylermileslockett]

Atalanta#8 "Aphrodites Revenge"

The marriage between Hippomenes and Atalanta proves strong and true, and Hippomenes doesn’t stifle his wife’s wild independence. On the contrary, he loves her the more for it. Many days they hunt together in the forests, and before long they have a son, Parthenopaeus. However, Hippomenes made an unforgivable mistake. He forgot to honor and sacrifice to Aphrodite for helping him win the foot race. The Olympians do not forget such things easily, and the goddess plans her revenge. One day the pair rest inside a cave dedicated to the mother goddess Cybele, where Aphrodite bewitches the two with lust, and they lay together within site of the gods. Furious at the blasphemous act, Cybele turns the lovers to lions, and put them under the harnesses of the Goddesses chariot.

Atalanta and Hippomenes son, Parthenopaeus, has his own epic life and story, as he goes on to be one of the captains in “The Seven Against Thebes” play. The third in a trilogy by “the father of Greek tragedy”, Aeschylus, the play concerns the two sons of King Oedipus of Thebes, Eteocles, who refuses to relinquish the throne, and Polynices, the other son who leads a revolt army led by seven Argive (from city-state of Argos) captains.

Cybele, a mother goddess of fertility, motherhood, and wilds, has her roots in Anatolia (Turkey), also knows as Asia Minor, in the kingdom of Phrygia. Using the title of Meter Theon, or “Mother of the gods,” the Greek equivalent would be Rhea. The goddess was born a hermaphrodite, but the other gods, fearing this duality, cut of her penis and discarded it. Later, when her mortal lover, Attis, spurns her, she drives him crazy and he amputates his penis and bleeds to death at the base of a pine tree. Thus, Cybele’s cult was run by transgender eunuch priests; the Galli. The orgiastic rites of the cult of Cybele share similarities with the cult of Dionysus. Apparently the priests and other followers, in honor of Cybeles castration, would work themselves into a frenzy, and mutilate and bleed themselves upon violets (representing Attis blood) adorned on a sacred pine tree.

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[whencyclopedia]

Orpheus

Orpheus is a figure from ancient Greek mythology, most famous for his virtuoso ability in playing the lyre or kithara. His music could charm the wild animals of the forest, and even streams would pause and trees bend a little closer to hear his sublime singing. He was also a renowned poet, travelled with Jason and the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece, and even descended into the Underworld of Hades to recover his lost wife Eurydice. Orpheus was seen as the head of a poetic tradition known as Orphism where, according to some scholars, adherents performed certain rituals and composed or read poems, texts, and hymns, which included an alternative view of humanity's origins. Orpheus is widely referenced in all forms of ancient Greek art from pottery to sculpture.

Family

Orpheus had an excellent musical pedigree as his mother was the Muse Calliope and he learnt his great skills from his father the god Apollo, the finest musician of them all. Orpheus' mortal father was generally considered to be King Oeagrus (or Oiagros) of Thrace, where the Greeks believed the lyre also came from. Orpheus' brother was the unfortunate Linos (Linus) of Argos, the inventor of rhythm and melody, and the kithara teacher of Hercules, who was killed by his famous pupil after he over-chastised the hero. Orpheus also passed on his musical skills, notably tutoring King Midas, the mythical king of Phrygia whose touch changed everything into gold. In some myths, Orpheus had a son, Leos who was regarded as the founder of the Athenian Leontids.

Continue reading...

[thewhisperofzagreus]

Zagreus Sabazius

Important reminder. Everything I write about here is only indirectly connected by distant assumptions and rare crossings and absolutely should not be considered the immutable truth. As someone whose patron is Zagreus, I write about my findings and assumptions, but I am also totally possibly to be mistaken and see what I want to see myself. Take everything with a grain of salt.

We have already once looked at the Greek sources with the story of Zagreus. But beyond the rare surviving Greek sources, we will always have something else. Why is Zagreus sometimes mentioned with the epithet “Sabazius”? What does this epithet mean? What are Zagreus' powers? And why, after all, is he and Gaia called “highest of the all gods” in the Alcmeonis?

Welcome to my deep dive on one of the most mysterious theoi — Zagreus Sabazius.

So, later Greek writers, like Strabo in the first century CE, linked Sabazios with Zagreus. But who is Sabazios and what does it mean?

Sabazius comes from a common root with Sanskrit sabhâdj, honored, and with Greek σέβειν, to honor. It's also may be connected with the Indo-European *swo-, meaning "[his] own," and with the idea of freedom.

Sabazios is a deity originating in Asia Minor. He is the chief sky god of the Phrygians and Thracians. Sabazios gained prominence across the Roman Empire, particularly favored in the Central Balkans due to Thracian influence. On some monuments Sabazius is called “master of the cosmos”.

Decree of the organisation of worshippers of Sabazius, 102 BC

It seems likely that the migrating Phrygians brought Sabazios with them when they settled in Anatolia in the early first millennium BCE, and that the god's origins are to be looked for in Macedonia and Thrace. The ancient sanctuary of Perperikon in modern-day Bulgaria, uncovered in 2000, is believed to be that of Sabazios.

Two altars in the sanctuary were used for blood sacrifice.

And as Euripides has already graciously told us, Zagreus was honored as a god of blood, among other things. Sabazius, as a deity, was often associated with sky, thunder, nature, boons, mystery, and blood. One of its most frequent symbols was serpent.

Sabazius' references sometimes included Cybele. She is an Anatolian mother goddess. She is Phrygia's only known goddess, and was probably its national deity. Greek colonists in Asia Minor adopted and adapted her Phrygian cult and spread it to mainland Greece and to the more distant western Greek colonies around the 6th century BC.

In Greece, Cybele met with a mixed reception. She became partially assimilated to aspects of the Earth-goddess Gaia, of her possibly Minoan equivalent Rhea, and of the harvest–mother goddess Demeter.

And now everything suddenly made sense. Why are Gaia and Zagreus named the highest of all the gods in Alcmeonis? Because they always have been.

In her transition to Greece, Cybele, Phrygia's only known goddess, was named Gaia (which honestly makes much more sense to me than associating her with Rhea or Demeter). And Zagreus? And Zagreus remained Zagreus.

Gaia Cybele and Zagreus Sabazius, Mother Earth and Sky King, the highest gods of the Phrygians and Thracians, who later also made their way to Greece.

But unfortunately, no individual direct myths about King Sabazius have survived either.

But there was also one thing that persisted and always baffled me.

In my personal experience with Zagreus, his signature weapon has always been moonblades to me. And I always wondered why. What does Zagreus have to do with the moon? Why is it always an integral part of his power and history in my experience?

Well, now I know the answer.

At one point Sabazius merged with the Asia Minor and Syrian moon deity, Mēn. Mēn was a lunar god worshipped in the western interior parts of Anatolia. He is attested in various localized variants, such as Mēn Askaenos in Antioch in Pisidia, or Mēn Pharnakou at Ameria in Pontus.

Bust of Mēn in Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

In the Kingdom of Pontus, there was a temple estate dedicated to Mēn Pharnakou and Selene at Ameria, near Cabira (Strabo 12.3.31). The temple was probably established by Pharnakes I in the 2nd century BC, apparently in an attempt to counterbalance the influence of the Moon goddess Ma of Comana. The cult of Mēn Pharnakou in Pontus has been traced to the appearance of the star and crescent motif on Pontic coins at the time.

A similar temple estate dedicated to Mēn Askaenos existed in Pisidia, first centered around Anabura and then shifted to the nearby city of Pisidian Antioch after its founding by the Seleucids around 280 BC. The temple estate/sacred sanctuary (ἱερόs) was a theocratic monarchy ruled by the "Priest of Priests," a hereditary title. According to Strabo, this "temple state" that the cult of Mên Askaenos controlled near Pisidian Antioch, persisted until the city was refounded by the Romans in 25 BC, becoming Colonia Caesarea Augusta.

The Augustan History has the Roman emperor Caracalla (r. 198–217) venerate Lunus at Carrhae; this, i.e. a masculine variant of Luna, "Moon", has been taken as a Latinized name for Mēn.

Even though no specific myths have survived about any aspect of Zagreus, it gives us a wealth of information about what Zagreus was and is and the diverse number of domains he holds.

Yes, Zagreus. Zagreus, god of mysteries, blood, flesh, sky, thunder, nature and moon. Zagreus Sabazius, Zagreus Mēn, Zagreus the Winged Serpent Hunter, Zagreus the Scarlet Thunderer, Zagreus the Serpent King. Zagreus Prince of Chthonia, Zagreus King of Sky, Zagreus Highest of All the Gods, Zagreus Master of the Cosmos.

                                         Ζαγρεύς Σαβάζιος

[mapsontheweb]

The Hellenistic world

"Atlante storico tascabile", Istituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara,1999

via cartesdhistoire

In 323 BC, Alexander died without heirs, possibly from the plague. His empire, already facing insurrectionary movements, did not outlive him. His generals, the Diadochi, began a protracted struggle for power: Antipater in Macedonia, Lysimachus in Thrace, Ptolemy in Egypt, Antigonus Monophthalmos in Asia Minor and Syria, and Seleucus in Babylon.

The first phase of the war among the Diadochi concluded at Ipsus in Phrygia in 301 BC, with the "battle of the kings." Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Cassander, son of Antipater, defeated Antigonus, who had been consistently victorious until then. Seleucus and Ptolemy, prudent rulers, founded dynasties destined for long endurance, even though they were not immune to the temptation of rebuilding Alexander's empire. The focal point of the conflict became Macedonia, and long wars ensued for its dominion.

The Epigones, successors of the Diadochi, instead supported the status quo. The kings of Egypt and Syria founded new cities, respecting the rights of existing poleis.

Nearly all Hellenistic kings surrounded themselves with scholars, artists, and scientists. Ptolemy I founded the largest library of antiquity in Alexandria, Egypt.

In 277 BC, the Galatians, of Celtic descent, settled in Asia Minor. Some provinces declared independence, including the kingdom of Pergamon, a city renowned for being built on terraces, distinguished by the splendor of its culture and art, exemplified by a library of 400,000 volumes.

The kingdom of Bactria, situated in the northern region of present-day Afghanistan, was also significant, representing the eastern extent of Hellenistic influence and serving as a crossroads between the cultures of the Mediterranean region and those of China and India.

Antiochus III, the greatest of the Seleucids, expanded the empire's territories. However, the invasion of Greece in 192 BC triggered a war with Rome. Following the war, the king was compelled to accept peace, marking the beginning of the inexorable decline of his empire.

[along-the-silkroad]

Fighting the Titans: Ptolemaic Victory over the Galatians

After the Galatians settled in Asia Minor, Northern Phrygia became a popular recruitment area for various competing Hellenistic monarchs. These Celts were known and respected for their military prowess. At the same time, the various kings of the ancient world occasionally waged war against them. These victories were then used in the royal propaganda to portray the monarch as a defender of civilization and liberty against these "barbarians." This perceived liberating role was often celebrated with the title "Soter" ("Savior"). The ambiguous love-hate relationship with the Galatians is clearly demonstrated in Ptolemaic Egypt, particularly during the reign of Ptolemy II.

Ptolemy II Philadelphos recruited some 4,000 Celtic warriors sometime during the 270s BCE. At the time, Ptolemy II was engaged in a conflict with his rebellious stepbrother, Magas, in Cyrenaica to the west. Magas, who became part of the Ptolemaic dynasty through his mother's marriage to Ptolemy I, had established a kingdom centered around the wealthy Greek colony of Cyrene in modern-day Libya. While Ptolemy headed west to address this threat, the Celtic mercenaries rebelled around 274 BCE.

According to Pausanias (1.7.2), the Celts sought to seize control of Egypt while Ptolemy II was preoccupied in the west. However, Ellis Berresford rightly notes that this claim is likely a gross exaggeration; a force of just 4,000 warriors would hardly have entertained such an ambitious plan. Instead, the Celts probably aimed to exploit the king’s absence by plundering Egypt’s numerous wealthy temples and towns before fleeing the country.

Ptolemy II, however, reacted swiftly and drove the rebels to an island near Sebennytos, where, according to Pausanias, they were starved into submission.

This victory was a minor event but quickly became a key element in Ptolemaic propaganda. The members of the Ptolemaic court, as well as the king himself, likely recognized the propaganda value of this triumph. As rival kings legitimized their rule through victories over Celtic tribes, Ptolemy seized the opportunity to join the ranks of these esteemed “liberator” kings.

Coins were issued featuring Galatian shields to commemorate this victory. Additionally, Ptolemy II was famously celebrated as a second Apollo in Kallimachos’ Hymn to Delos. In this work, the Hellenistic court poet recalls Ptolemy II's victory over the Celts in the following manner: 

“Yes, and some day afterward a general conflict will come upon us, when the later-born Titans, raising up against the Greeks a barbarian sword and Celtic war, from the farthest west rushing like snow or equal in number to the heavenly bodies when they flock most thickly in the sky.” (transl. Dee Clayman) 

Interestingly, Kallimachos describes the Celts as new Titans. The Titans were the older generation of gods who ruled the universe until they were overthrown by the Olympian gods under Zeus' command. If the Celts are the Titans, then the Ptolemaic king and his army are likened to the Olympian gods. This comparison between the Celts and villains from mythical history is not unique to Kallimachos’ poem. Similarly, in Attalid propaganda, parallels are drawn between their war against the Celts and the legendary Gigantomachy, the mythical victory of the Olympian gods over the Giants.

What is the purpose of this victory? It elevates the conflict with the Celts to an entirely new level. Just as the Titanomachy and Gigantomachy were remembered as triumphs of order, justice, and liberty, the subjugation of the Celts is meant to be celebrated as a victory over barbarism and chaos.

This reimagining of the wars against the Celts proved to be a powerful tool for legitimizing the Hellenistic monarchies in the eyes of the Greeks. The Greeks were naturally inclined to view kingship as an illegitimate and un-Greek form of government. Consequently, the kings employed these powerful mythological narratives to portray themselves as essential to the world order and worthy of rule, despite the autocratic nature of their governance. Moreover, if Zeus, a king, was accepted by the Greeks as the ruler of the cosmos, then why should the Hellenistic monarchs not be accepted as legitimate rulers?

In short, Ptolemy’s victory over the Celts, despite its limited scale, provided him with a triumph he could frame as a victory of order over chaos. This sent a powerful message throughout the Hellenic world: he was a god performing godlike deeds. Furthermore, as the Olympian gods were accepted by the Greeks as kings, why shouldn’t the Ptolemaic monarchy be afforded the same respect?

It is hard not to detect the hubris in this Ptolemaic mindset. They were mortals striving to be gods—or so it might seem. To the Ptolemies, there was no such contradiction: they were not merely mortals aspiring to divinity; they were gods. Through the dynastic cult and other forms of propaganda, they blurred the line between the divine realm and the Egyptian monarchy. Narratives emphasizing the kings’ similarities to the gods were widespread throughout the kingdom. For instance, the Ptolemies’ practice of sibling marriage mirrored the relationship between Zeus and Hera, who were also siblings. The story of the Celts aligns seamlessly with this broader propaganda effort, making its use entirely logical.

Olivier Goossens 

[bluepotion85]

The Golden Ratio - Chapter 1

The Straw hats are tricked into a massive dept inside the biggest entertainment city in the world. To make sure they come back to pay, they have to leave Zoro as a prisoner on the island. Zoro is confident his crew will return to save him, but what he doesn't know is that his captor has bigger plans for him.

(The following story contains male weight gain, food play, BDSM, kidnap, encouragement, and feeder/feedee scenarios. If that's not for you, then go to church or something vanilla dude.

This takes place during and after the events of the One-Piece film GOLD. For a better experience see the film on your local streaming service.

This story is written in collaboration with @bee-wg )

Tesoro

Seeing Strawhat's crew's expression from shock to despair is exactly what I live for.

Their captain had naively bet against me, the king of the casino, with the twenty million berries I loaned them. In total, they have to repay three hundred and twenty million berries.

“You know we can't pay you a damn thing!” said the cat burglar, Nami.

“Then I guess you would have to work your debt off. If you refuse, I will have to collect your debt by force.” I replied.

After eating, drinking, racing, and gambling, they have dug themselves into a hole they can't crawl back from.

“I’ll handle this. Taking out the boss is the quickest way to end a fight,” said the pirate hunter, Zoro.

“Interesting statement, so you’re going to beat me? Here, in this city?” I asked.

“Easily,” he replied.

He charged toward me, and with a single gesture of my hand, his body solidified into gold where it stood. Only the pirate hunter´s head is left untouched as he screams, “Stay behind!”

“Good call, another second, and they would all be golden statues,” I said.

“What's this power?” said the green-haired pirate.

“I ate the gol gol fruit. I can control any gold I've touched, and you were all covered in gold flakes when you entered this city, weren't you?” I replied.

“Like everyone else, once you entered this city, you were completely under my control,” I shouted.

With a kick, the pirate hunter falls to his back.

“Now then, I’ll have you return the money we loaned you. With your three hundred and twenty million berry bounty, that is,” I say.

“So, from the beginning you …!” Said Nami.

With a laugh, I reply, “Nobody can oppose me!”

“Don't get cocky! she replied.

My main singer and servant, Carina, approached them and put a knife to Nami´s neck before saying, “Don't move.”

“Who-?” Nami asked, looking at the knife.

“Shut your mouth and obey,” Carina replied.

You- We will pay our debt,” said Nami.

“Perfect, from now on, you shall work for me. I will take this man as insurance over your debt. If any of you try to betray me or escape, I will have him executed before a live audience!” I replied.

With gritted teeth, they looked as Nami said, “Fine, we agree,”

“Of course you do. After all, this is just another one of life's gambles. Will you pay off your debt and save your friend, or will you end up slaves for the rest of your lives?”

Their captain, Monkey D. Luffy, the man capable of defeating Doflamingo lies uselessly, his expression filled with rage and impotence, while my workers drag the golden body of his crewmate.

“Be sure to entertain me thoroughly. I look forward to it!” I said.

We walk through the hallways that connect the VIP room to my studio. Dice drags Zoro's body while he struggles foolishly to break from my golden bind.

“What is the most dangerous mission we can send them to, Baccarat?” I asked.

“We could make them capture the legendary bird of Garuda Island, Steal the treasure of the Ataraxia kingdom, or even dig out the remains of the former Phrygia king,” she replied.

“Send them on all three then, and install Den Den Mushi on their ship. I want everyone on Gran Tesoro to see their gamble run,” I replied.

My laugh drowns the hallway before I hear him speak.

“You will regret this,” said Zoro.

“You still have some spirit in you, pirate hunter,” I say, leaning closer to him.

“It's going to be entertaining beating that energy out of you,” I add.

With a single kick, I put him to sleep.

-------------------

Zoro

My eyes open to find an office. No, a Lounge? Just where am I? The last thing I remember is Tesoro taking me hostage.

Looking around the room, I see golden decorations everywhere and a massive desk in front of me. That's when I noticed. I'm half attached to the room with both my arms and legs deep within the golden walls.

I need to get out of here, reunite with everyone and get the fuck away from this gold prison. The door to the room is underneath me. It opens up to reveal Tesoro. He walks to his desk without even looking at me. When he sits down, he grins at me and says.

“Our guest has woken up. Have you enjoyed your stay in my studio?”

“It’s ugly,” I reply.

“Lie to me all you want, but you know these walls are paradise. I guess you can't comprehend your luck,” he added.

“Luck? After getting kidnapped by a golden eyesore?” I replied.

“To be a trophy on my wall, only the most luxurious of pieces are here. Also, to be here and not like your friends running around, desperately to pay your debt,” he replied.

“I would rather die like a man out there with them than live here as a wall decoration,” I said through gritted teeth.

Tesoro laughed at that and added, “Let's make a gamble of our own then. Will you stay this strong till your friends come to your rescue, or will you beg to stay here at the Gran Tesoro before your friends can pay up their debt,”

“What's in for me?” I replied.

“If you win by a miracle, I will forgive your friend's debt, and you can take the three hundred and twenty million berries with you. But if I win, you will be my slave for the rest of your sorry life,” he said.

“I´ll buy some good booze with that money,” I reply.

“I can't wait to break you, Roronoa Zoro,” he replied before exiting the room.

I stayed there waiting for hours or days, wondering if Tesoro was planning on leaving me here to slowly starve to death. In the darkened room, I could only sense the smell of cologne and him. It's a suffocating thing. As the hours pass, I feel a strange burning sensation spreading all over me. It begins in my chest and extends to every inch of my body. My heart starts to pump faster, and sweat runs through my forehead. I try to ignore it the best I can, but with every breath I take the sensation grows stronger, and the temperature in the room continues to rise.

I keep thinking that my nose will get used to it, and my body will adapt to whatever makes it react like this. But the more I stay here, the more I can smell it in the air.

For three days, I stayed in the wall. With some meditation, I tried to keep my strength. My muscles remained steady in this position, and a puddle of my own sweat formed on the floor. Even with all of my efforts, my body betrayed me. A haze of need clouds my eyes. I crave release.

Occasionally, a golden tube will descend to try and give me food or water but I refuse to. After getting turned into a gold statue from golden flakes, how could anyone trust them with food?

Finally, Tesoro came back to his studio at the end of the third day.

“What a great show that was! It's a shame you couldn't see it, pirate hunter,”

I don't reply, as I am at my limit. My body can withstand three days easily without food or water, but this goddamn smell is making me mad. I need to get off this wall! If I open my mouth, I'm not sure what I will say.

“I see you are withering away while everyone else is out there enjoying your friends' adventures. It is the ultimate entertainment.”

“What are you talking about?” I replied.

My mouth is dry, and the words come out dry and slow, but that doesn't bother him. If anything, it makes his grin grow.

“I sent your friends on treasure hunt missions and live-streamed their misadventures for everyone to enjoy. The hottest new show at the Gran Tesoro, Straw Hats Adventure!” he replied.

I can feel my rage bubbling inside me when he says.

“I could show you if you want, under one condition,” he says.

”What?” I reply.

“You have to do everything exactly as I say when you are off that wall,” he said.

My body has been running in high gear for the last three days. Through the haze of the heat, I wonder if I should accept what he will make me do. I need to know they are safe, yet I trust them to be on their own. Before my brain can come to a conclusion, my broiling body responds for me.

“Deal”

“I knew you would be smart and agree,” he said.

The gold of the wall turned liquid and descended me onto the floor. I collapsed to my feet after days of not using them.

“What's the matter, a cramp?” He says, looming over me.

“Show me,” I replied.

His mad eyes looked at me with a twisted pleasure as he pushed a button on his desk. A Den Den Mushi descended from the roof, and after opening his eyes, a projection appeared in front of us.

“Incredible isn't it? A live projection of their adventure twenty four hours,” he said.

I couldn't listen to him because I was too focused on watching Luffy and the rest fight a hoard of beasts so expensive I couldn't see the end of it.

“Garuda Island, they have the strongest beast in the new world. A legendary bird capable of laying golden eggs is said to be nesting there. Bringing a batch of their eggs seemed like a simple enough first mission, don't you think?” He said.

“Luffy…”

A giant turkey takes Luffy with its beak and throws him off the view. The bird approaches Ussop, and I know he is dead meat.

“Now, for payment. You have to do as I say,” said Tesoro.

He presses another button on his desk, and a group of women show up at his door with a trolley filled with food.

“You have rejected every meal for the past three days. I have to commend your dedication, but we can’t have you dying out of starvation. Otherwise, our show will end too soon. So, I want you to eat,”

“I'm not hungry,”

My stomach betrays me and rumbles. Damn it. I take a spoonful of the saffron rice and shrimp they gave me; the taste is good, but nothing compares to the perv cook. If that twisted eyebrow freaked knew, he would never let me live it down.

“Good to see you cooperate. You know, I have a couple of collaborators near the island. They could lend a hand to your friends. Make sure they are safe on their mission if you eat a second plate of food.”

“I trust them to survive on their own,”

At that moment, the bird catches Usopp and throws him as well, but I see Luffy intercepting him mid-air.

“Gum Gum Balloon!”

They will survive on their own. I can't allow Tesoro to poison me with whatever could be in this food.

Then I noticed Luffy left Usopp drop, and I wondered if the second plate might be necessary at some point.

“Suit yourself. It's more exciting to see them struggle. In any case, What do you think of the food? The best ingredients in all of the new world,” he asks.

“Shitty, I have tasted better stuff from a pervert,”

“You will see it has an acquired taste. For now, enjoy it,”

He stayed there watching me eat. Like he said, with each mouthful my palate got accustomed to the flavor until my fork hit the empty plate.

Tentacles of gold stretch from the wall and drag me back to it as soon as the plate is off my hands.

“What the fuck?”

“Well, you said you only needed that one plate. Your friends are safe and sound, and know you are back to being my trophy. Ain't I a man of my word?”

“What gives?”

“What, you wanted some private time or something? Don't forget Roronoa Zoro. You are my slave now. I don’t need to give you shit. Every meal, every drop of water is a gift out of a merciful king,”

“Damn you,” I replied.

“If you want something in particular, and I can see what it could be,” he said, eyeing me.

“Then beg for it like the lowlife you are,” he added.

We stayed silently there for a minute. Then he broke the silence with a laugh.

“Millions of people enter the GranTesoro with dreams of winning a fortune. Like them, you too will succumb to despair. Try as much as you want to look strong, it won't help you in due time,”

He exited the room, and I lowered my head in defeat. By the time I wake up from my nap, they will be here.

Next Chapter >>

[nysus-temple]

Dionysus' lesser-known myths [or perhaps you do know them, but i will tell you about them anyway]

Some of these myths have already been shown in my blog, but i decided to bring some of them up again in a more elaborated way, plus some new too. Perhaps you've heard of them, perhaps you haven't, but i can tell you i haven't seen them much around here.

And my job isn't reading your minds, it's about writting essays, so here we go.

1. Ampelos (Αμπελος):

According to Nonnus of Panopolis, Ampelos was a satyr (tho not many art represents him as such) who loved Dionysus, and was loved by him as well. Not much of a surprise, since we do know many gods had male lovers.

The problem is that, we're still talking about a satyr, we know how those guys are and act. According to Nonnus, Ampelos was riding a bull while mocking Selene, angrily, she sent a gadfly to sting the bull. The bull ran and threw Ampelos all over the place. Nonnus describes it as a very gore-like death.

Dionysus, upset, ended up turning Ampelos' corpse into a grape vine, and from there, he created wine with his blood... THANKFULY, it was the blood.

Roman mosaic with Ampelos and Bacchus.

2. Midas (Μίδας):

"But Nysus, everybody knows Midas" yes yes, but do you KNOW the actual Greek myths? Or do you know the later, VERY later-on version that appears in Wikipedia? Midas never turned his daughter into gold in the folklore, for example.

Midas was a foreign king who married a greek woman, he was the king of Phrygia, and according to Pausanias, he had a daughter named Zoe. I have absolutely nothing about her except this.

Anyways, going to the important part: Silenus, a companion of Dionysus who used to be one of his foster fathers, got lost while he was... Kind of drunk ( come on, Dionysus can't keep an eye on everyone 24/7 ). Some peasants found him and took him to King Midas, who, as a very loyal follower of Dionysus, recognized Silenus and took care of him. When Dionysus arrived in order to take him back, he thanked Midas and said he would give him in return anything that he wished for... And here it comes: Midas wished to be able to turn everything that he touched to gold, and Dionysus agreed, even though he felt sorry he hadn't thought of it twice.

Midas was happy turning stuff into gold, obviously. But when he touched food and it turned into gold as well and he was unable to eat, he returned to Dionysus asking him to turn it back to normal.

Surprisingly, Dionysus didn't say "no" or "live with the consequences"; he told him to wash himself in the river Pactolus, and, good enough, the gold thingy dissappeared.

I don't have this myth fully narrated by a Greek, instead, from a latin author. The good thing tho, thanks to Herodotus and Pausanias, i know it's realiable.

Monument dedicated to Midas, in the old Prhygia ( now part of Turkey )

3. The Minyades (Μινυάδες):

According to Plutarch, king Minyas had three daughters ( whose names i honestly don't know, they appear in Ovid's Metamorphosis ). He tells that Dionysus appeared in the form of a maiden to invite them to the Dionysian Mysteries, since the rest of the women had already gone there. And they declined, politely, but still declined. This is one of those moments in which we see Dionysus' weak points, no justified anger. They neglected the cult, but had nothing against it anyways.

Still, for him, that wasn't enough.

He drove them mad, like very. Something that for Plutarch was even worse than death, apparently. They even killed their own children and ate them (yikes) dismembering them like Dionysus was once dismembered. The sisters were wandering around the mountains, without Dionysus caring at all.

Until finally, Hermes took pity on them, and turned them into bats, freeing them from the madness.

One of the Minyades showing the dismembered body of her son - Étienne-Barthélémy Garnier

4. Zeus' lighting bolts

This one is short, so i'll get to the point.

We all know what Nonnus' was up to when writing about Dionysus. He said in his work that Zeus recognized him (when being Zagreus) as his heir. Since when he was still a little kid, he was able to climb to his throne and to hold Zeus' lightning bolts. Of course, then the very well-known myth of Hera calling the titants to dismember Dionysus arrives here, since she wanted no heir to the throne.

Things happen, you know.

5. Lykurgos (Λυκοῦργος):

Remember when i talked about this guy in the anger essay? Wellp, here he is again, it's the same, but i'll elaborate on him a bit more.

He was a thracian king, and when he heard that Dionysus was going to Thracia, he ordered to trap all of his female followers in a prison.

Yes, only the women. I guess no men followed Dionysus in Thracia during his reign, not like i can ask him about it.

OF COURSE Pentheus 2.0 would imprison the FOLLOWERS of the god of MADNESS. Of course...

Dionysus got angry ( what a surprise ) and sent a drought towards Thracia + making Lykurgos go mad. It's not Dionysus if he doesn't punish you by making you go mad.

He then proceed to tell the people that the only way to stop that punishment was by killing Lykurgos, and, well, they did. They all killed him, and were freed from the punishment.

Dionysus then stopped the drought, he kept his word, indeed.

Lykurgos attacking his own wife after being induced into madness

6. The punishment of the titans

You think they got away? No, the fuck, of course they didn't.

After Zeus' found out what had happened to Dionysus (Zagreus), he imprisoned them in Tartatus, which caused Gaia to be all sad again, since many of her children had already been imprisoned there. What she did was, as scary as Gaia has always been, burning down everything she could.

The only way Zeus could take pity on her in order to stop that, was by sending a flood.

7. Coresus (Κόρησος):

Callirhoe was a Calydonian woman who scorned Coresus, a priest of Dionysus, who threatened to afflict all the women of Calydon with insanity as the good Dionysus priest he was.

The way to stop this was with a sacrifice, to kill the woman who scorned him. Coresus was ordered to sacrifice her, but he killed himself instead since apparently, he was in love with her and couldn't do it.

Callirhoe was overcome with remorse, and cut her throat at a spring that later received her name.

As always.

Coresus sacrificing himself to save Callirhoe - Jean-Honoré Fragonard

8. The Frogs (Βάτραχοι):

At this point, this isn't lesser-known anymore, and i'm not the biggest fan of Aristophanes' work (i love Euripides way too much, oops) but i'll still summarize what Dionysus has to do with this play.

Dionysus, as the god of theatre he is, wanted to bring back to life one of the great tragedy authors. And he descends to Hades for that, it's a way to mock his connection with it, this is still a comedy.

And after a poetry slam, Aeschylus is chosen in preference to Euripides. Smh, fucking Aristophanes, way to put your preferences.

9. Orpheus' death:

I'm not gonna elaborate on this one THAT much, since i wanna save it for the Apollo & Dionysus essay i have unfinished, which was the second most voted one and it might take more time to finish it.

In any case, do you know all these modern retellings in which they paint Dionysus as the "chill, calm, who only wants to party" dude? And Apollo as the "feral, envious, angry" dude? Well, ya'll are wrong...

Dionysus killed Orpheus due to his jealousy of Apollo's worship. I'm leaving you with this sentence, wait for the other essay to know why Dionysus and Apollo are so complex in terms of feelings. Or, at least, i will try to elaborate on it.

Apollo welcoming Dionysus to the sanctuary of Delphi, which they shared.

10. Dionysus IS physically incapable of getting drunk, live with it:

SHOCK i know. So if i see any of ya'll saying he's drunk 24/7, you better have your testament written.

NONNUS OF PANOPOLIS. DIONYSIACA. LITERAL TEXT: "Only to Dionysus gave Rhea the amethyst that saves the drinker from the chains of madness."

Yes, obviously going for scientifict facts, this doesn't work. It was believed in this world that the amethyst would prevent people from getting drunk. But this is mythology, Dionysus is a god, he can't get drunk even if he wanted to. And it's not like he should, he needs to keep an eye on his followers 24/7. Or do we want to remember what happened to Silenus?

Dude, how the hell do i have to tell you all, that in all text in which people were drinking for honoring Dionysus, they always stopped saying "he wouldn't like to see us this way" HE DOESN'T WANT YA'LL DO GET DRUNK. THAT'S NOT HOW HIS MADNESS WORKED

No. The women in the Bacchae are not ✨girlboss slaaaaay�� they were feral women. The madness Dionysus used to punish Pentheus and the Theban women is NOT something you should idealize. Euripides didn't want ya'll to call him an icon because "omg the Bacchae is so progresive" GUYS... NO. IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT. It's about showing Dionysus' wrath. Of showing why like with any other god, he's feared.

The Greek gods are not your free playground OC's. You can't invent their sexualities or gender identities just for yourself. They're important figures of a culture and country that still lives. If you want an icon to feel identify with, create one. But don't go around there saying Dionysus is genderfluid JUST because you like seeing him young. No.

I know, personally, genderfluid people, and all of them agree THIS is wrong. I already had the whole pronouns drama with Dionysus, don't start over again with this. Please.

* AHEM * In any case... Hope you enjoyed !

I needed to work A LOT for this essay, since most of these myths weren't listed with sources. Whenever you wanna write a guide about folkore or anything similar, please, list your sources ! i don't want anyone else to go through the pain of needing to research though the catacombs of information JUST to confirm one sentence. Because i went trhough that, there's a reason why i've been researching about Dionysus for more than three years already and i still don't have everything. Thanks for your support and essay requests as always, it makes me INCREDIBLY happy to see so many of you willing to learn about a figure that has been so underappreciated and reduced into nothing like Dionysus, and who is still being misinterpreted to this day.

As always, reblogs would be very appreciated, it's the way people can find my blog for something else than copypaste incorrect quotes, and i always appreciate that kind of support. Of course i do this "por amor al arte" as i would say in Spanish, but still takes time and effort and i'm just a university student. I still will need A LOT of time to be able to work into something more accesible to everyone for the Greek folklore.

For now, this small Tumblr pieces is what i can give. But as always, thank you and χαίρε Διόνυσον 🍇

[king-midas-fortnite]

🌸✨sparkle sparkle! since you get along so well with the tiny reckless version of you, the world thinks it’s time you reconnect with your younger self! all the drama! the heartache! the pettiness! time to go back and re-experience it all! this ✨magic anon✨ curses you to become 20 once again, for five (5) whole asks! enjoy the ride!!✨🌸

"Get along with--Reconnect with my younger self? Oh, Gods--" Midas feels the zap of magic through him, a tingle similar to passing through a Zero Point rift. Before he's even able to yell obscenities at whoever sent this curse, there is a flash of light that eminates from his body, and he's on the ground. No longer quite himself.

With long, dark hair falling over his shoulders and armor that fit just a touch too big, King Midas stands from the ground in a daze.

Or rather, Prince Midas. At the young age of 20, his father had not yet gruesomely passed and named him king.

Although this Midas already has the scar marring his right eye, his lively tan skin is clear of tattoo ink. A difference more substantial than that, his skin remains it's birth-given tone down to his fingertips. He is not yet cursed with Dionysus' golden gift, is yet to lose a daughter, is yet to even have a child.

Prince Midas was hawty. Over confident to a fault with a clumsy, if not somehow still often effective charisma. He was naive, believed the world would be his for the taking as soon as the throne was his.

Not yet married, he was technically betrothed to a woman chosen by his family already. He'd honor the arrangement when his hand was forced, but at this age, he cared little for the obligation. Both men and women in his kingdom tended to fawn over royalty, not to mention ones so beutiful, and who would he be not to indulge in the privileges the gods had granted him?

Prince Midas of Phrygia could do no wrong, the rules hardly applied to him. He took what he wanted, turned his nose up to what he didn't, and there was no authority he bowed to. (That is, besides his father, and the gods at his father's behest.)

Much to his further confusion, and by some strange grace of this curse, his words come in English rather than Greek. Though, with an accent the current King does not have.

"What the hell is going on?!" He looks around with eyes unburdened by decades of sleepless nights. He pats himself down, the clothes on him strange and constricting, "What costume has been put on me?"

Reaching up to his head, he pulls the thorned crown from his hair. It's gilded surface gleams in the light.

'Ah, well this can stay.' He thinks before setting it back on his head.

[thewitchinthecloset35]

The Musical Contest between Apollon and Marsyas

Marsyas was a Phrygian satyr who found the divine aulos that Athena had discarded. Or in another version, Marsyas is known as the inventor of the aulos. He fell in love with the instrument and eventually mastered it, believing his skills were that of a God.

Marsyas challenged Apollon, who agreed (or in some versions, Apollon challenged Marsyas for his claims of being better than the God). Marsyas would play first using the double-piped aulos, followed by Apollon playing the same piece on a kithara (or lyre, as some debate these were the same instrument in their earlier days), and the two played back and forth captivating their audience.

Some sources say the judges were the Muses, in others it was King Midas of Phrygia. In one version, Marsyas won the first round. To this, Apollon turned his kithara upside down and played the piece. In another version, Apollon sang while playing the piece. And no matter which version you follow, Marsyas was unable to flip his aulos upside down or sing while playing the wind instrument, ending the contest with Apollon as the winner.

As punishment for his hubris and pride by challenging a deity, Apollon had Marsyas tied to a tree and flayed alive, who might have intended for his skin to be turned into a wine flask. The sight of Marsyas was so upsetting that locals, rustic deities, fauns, and his brother satyrs all wept for him, and in doing so they flooded a river that would be named after him.

References

https://meet-the-myths.com/greek-mythology/marsyas-and-apollo/

https://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/SatyrosMarsyas.html

https://www.theoi.com/Text/HyginusFabulae1.html

https://fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-our-collection/highlights/context/stories-and-histories/apollo-and-marsyas

https://www.thoughtco.com/apollo-and-marsyas-119918

[littlesparklight]

One interesting connection between the Trojan royal family and the line of Tantalos is something that's spread out in various bits and pieces throughout several sources. It's only mentioned briefly in each of them too, but the general idea is pretty coherent.

To start with; in the Suda, a late variant of Ganymede's abduction (one of the two rationalizing accounts, the other one has Minos doing the kidnapping). Here it is Tantalos/a Tantalos (as he's called the king of Thrace, but that might just be one more variant of where Tantalos lives, since it wasn't very consistent, instead of being a different Tantalos from our famous one) who takes a fancy to Ganymede, after suspecting espionage when Ganymede is sent to sacrifice at a shrine to Zeus.

Next, the scattered mentions I talked of above; all touch on some sort of war(s) between usually Ilus and either Tantalos or Pelops, from Pausanias 2.22.3, Diodorus Siculus 4.74.4 and Dictys Cretensis 1.6.

Ilus, being cast as pious and aggravated by Tantalos' misconduct drives him out of his country (here Paphlagonia) in Diodorus - he's one of the rationalizing/realistic ones, so obviously Tantalos isn't here getting any divine punishments and instead Ilus is standing in as such. Pausanias and Dictys mention war between Ilus and Pelops (and Pelops driven out of Lydia). Dictys strangely has a little line that intimates the war between Ilus and Pelops was for a reason "similar to this one" - that is, the Trojan war, Helen being in Troy. There's no explanation for what that might mean, and nothing such is mentioned elsewhere.

So what you can get out of is this a generational conflict and, undoubtedly, resentment on the part of Pelops from being driven out of his native country. Even more usefully, it's a very neat explanation as for why Pelops settles in Pisa with Hippodamia instead of taking her to Sipylos/Lydia/Phrygia/wherethefuckever in Anatolia.

And even if the "Agamemnon is greedy and is using Helen in Troy as a pretext" is a modern invention, using these pieces of mythic "worldbuilding" as background it's very easy to add extra flavour to especially Agamemnon's (but why not Menelaos' as well?) reasons for going through with the war. Revenge, and to retake their hold in their ancestral homeland.

(I can tell you I have happily used this to pad out the geography/local mythical history for the Anatolian families, also using the historical connection of Miletus being Mycenaean as it being an attempt by Pelops to gain some ground on the coast that ultimately fails, with Miletus/Caria being firmly aligned towards its Anatolian neighbours.)

[maeumverse]

THE MIDAS TOUCH is a fictional, five-member kpop boy group under ZENITH ENTERTAINMENT. They debuted on October 7, 2024 with the mini album PHRYGIA and double title tracks I'LL BE YOUR MAN and MOVE. Their lineup was first conceptualized in 2021, when the five members were trainees under the now-defunct PEACE MUSIC. Known simply as PEACE BOYS, they began to gain popularity for their livestreams, where they not only showed off their skills at covering kpop songs, but also built a rapport with their viewers.

In May of 2023, they released the mostly self-produced pre-debut single ON & ON, a culmination of the time they spent writing, choreographing, and practicing the song. The rest of the year saw LOONA-esque solo releases by four of the five members. A debut seemed imminent, until Peace Music suddenly announced their bankruptcy in February of 2024. The news came as a shock to their now-established fanbase, and the Peace Boys social media accounts disappeared almost immediately. In the weeks that followed, Atlas penned a heartfelt message on his personal Instagram, apologizing for the sudden dissolution of the agency and their group. He also unofficially released his solo track, given that it was the only one that had never had an official release.

The next few months passed in radio silence. It was assumed that they had gone their separate ways to different companies or different careers. That changed over the summer, when a Fable sasaeng posted a picture of two previously unknown people entering the Zenith Entertainment building. Peace Boys fans quickly identified them as Shinji and Atlas, the two youngest members of the group. A few weeks after this discovery, Zenith Entertainment officially announced that all five Peace Boys had signed exclusive contracts with the company, and were set to debut in the next few months.

The Midas Touch finally debuted in October, with a somewhat vague and general mythological concept. Their group name, from the King Midas of myth, represents their desire to turn whatever they touch to gold. No one tell them anything about the ears of an ass. Nevertheless, their debut was celebrated by long-time fans, who refuse to acknowledge their somewhat vague mythological stage names in favor of their birth names they used for the lengths of their pre-debut careers.

MEMBERS

HABAGAT / Elías Navarro (2000) — main dancer

DASHENG / Zheng Chenxing (2000) — main dancer

ARJUN Jalali (2001) — main vocal

HYEOKGEOSE / Park Shinji (2002) — main rapper

ATLAS Son (2003) — leader, main vocal, face of the group, center, maknae

DISCOGRAPHY

ON & ON (2023) — pre-debut single

YOUR LOVE (2023) — Chenxing solo

STUCK (2023) — Arjun solo

FEEL LIKE (2023) — Elías solo

NO MORE (2024) — Shinji solo

PHRYGIA [I'LL BE YOUR MAN / MOVE] (2024) — debut mini album

[sleeplesssmoll]

Reference to Alexander the Great, his General, Antigonus, and the Battle of Gabiene.

The "Treasures of the Aegean Sea" tells the saga of a family of Western arcanists whose journey spans thousands of miles and over two millennia. Their ancestors fought alongside a Macedonian God-King (possibly Alexander the Great), shifting their loyalties after his death to the one-eyed general (possibly Antigonus). These war-hardened veterans joined his army after the Battle of Gabiene and formed a powerful but volatile force.

The arcanists within this army were eventually sent east, where they blended into the Sogdian tribes and thrived along the Central Asian trade routes. Over time, they settled near the ancient Hellenistic city of Ai-Khanoum, establishing a small arcanist commune. However, the turbulence of early conflicts eventually scattered them once again, leaving behind only fragments of their story—maps, diaries, epitaphs, and archives that tell the tale of their incredible adventure.

Alexander the Great (356–323 BC), king of Macedon, succeeded his father Philip II at age 20 and embarked on a decade-long military campaign, creating one of the largest empires in history, stretching from Greece to India. Undefeated in battle, he conquered the Achaemenid Persian Empire and expanded Macedonian control across Western and Central Asia, Egypt, and parts of South Asia. After defeating Indian king Porus, Alexander’s army refused to advance further, leading him to turn back. He died in 323 BC in Babylon. His conquests spread Greek culture widely, marking the start of the Hellenistic period. Alexander’s military legacy influenced later leaders and became legendary, inspiring literature across many cultures. source

Antigonus I Monophthalmus aka "Antigonus the One-Eyed"; 382 – 301 BC) was a Macedonian general and a key successor to Alexander the Great. After serving in Alexander's army, he became satrap of Phrygia and later assumed control over large parts of Alexander’s former empire. He declared himself king (basileus) in 306 BC and founded the Antigonid dynasty. Following a series of wars among Alexander’s successors, Antigonus became one of the most powerful Diadochi, ruling over Greece, Asia Minor, and parts of the Near East. However, he was defeated and killed at the Battle of Ipsus in 301 BC, leading to the division of his kingdom. His son Demetrius later took control of Macedonia. source

Gabiene: After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, his generals immediately began squabbling over his empire. Soon it degenerated into open warfare, with each general attempting to claim a portion of Alexander's vast kingdom. One of the most talented generals among the Diadochi was Antigonus Monophthalmus (Antigonus the One-eyed), so called because of an eye he lost in a siege. During the early years of warfare between the Successors, he faced Eumenes, a capable general who had already crushed Craterus. The two Diadochi fought a series of actions across Asia Minor, and Persia and Media before finally meeting in what was to be a decisive battle at Gabiene (Greek: Γαβιηνή). source

[whencyclopedia]

Coinage

Coins were introduced as a method of payment around the 6th or 5th century BCE. The invention of coins is still shrouded in mystery: According to Herodotus (I, 94), coins were first minted by the Lydians, while Aristotle claims that the first coins were minted by Demodike of Kyrme, the wife of King Midas of Phrygia. Numismatists consider that the first coins were minted on the Greek island of Aegina, either by the local rulers or by King Pheidon of Argos.

Aegina, Samos, and Miletus all minted coins for the Egyptians, through the Greek trading post of Naucratis in the Nile Delta. It is certain that when Lydia was conquered by the Persians in 546 BCE, coins were introduced to Persia. The Phoenicians did not mint any coins until the middle of the fifth century BCE, which quickly spread to the Carthaginians who minted coins in Sicily. The Romans only started minting coins from 326 BCE.

Coins were brought to India through the Achaemenid Empire, as well as the successor kingdoms of Alexander the Great. Especially the Indo-Greek kingdoms minted (often bilingual) coins in the 2nd century BCE. The most beautiful coins of the classical age are said to have been minted by Samudragupta (335-376 CE), who portrayed himself as both a conqueror and a musician.

The first coins were made of electrum, an alloy of silver and gold. It appears that many early Lydian coins were minted by merchants as tokens to be used in trade transactions. The Lydian state also minted coins, most of the coins mentioning King Alyattes of Lydia. Some Lydian coins have a so-called legend, a sort of dedication. One famous example found in Caria reads "I am the badge of Phanes" - it is still unclear who Phanes was.

In China, gold coins were first standardized during the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BCE). After the fall of the Qin dynasty, the Han emperors added two other legal tenders: silver coins and "deerskin notes", a predecessor of paper currency which was a Chinese invention.

Continue reading...

[tylermileslockett]

Atalanta#8 "Aphrodites Revenge"

The marriage between Hippomenes and Atalanta proves strong and true, and Hippomenes doesn’t stifle his wife’s wild independence. On the contrary, he loves her the more for it. Many days they hunt together in the forests, and before long they have a son, Parthenopaeus. However, Hippomenes made an unforgivable mistake. He forgot to honor and sacrifice to Aphrodite for helping him win the foot race. The Olympians do not forget such things easily, and the goddess plans her revenge. One day the pair rest inside a cave dedicated to the mother goddess Cybele, where Aphrodite bewitches the two with lust, and they lay together within site of the gods. Furious at the blasphemous act, Cybele turns the lovers to lions, and put them under the harnesses of the Goddesses chariot.

Atalanta and Hippomenes son, Parthenopaeus, has his own epic life and story, as he goes on to be one of the captains in “The Seven Against Thebes” play. The third in a trilogy by “the father of Greek tragedy”, Aeschylus, the play concerns the two sons of King Oedipus of Thebes, Eteocles, who refuses to relinquish the throne, and Polynices, the other son who leads a revolt army led by seven Argive (from city-state of Argos) captains.

Cybele, a mother goddess of fertility, motherhood, and wilds, has her roots in Anatolia (Turkey), also knows as Asia Minor, in the kingdom of Phrygia. Using the title of Meter Theon, or “Mother of the gods,” the Greek equivalent would be Rhea. The goddess was born a hermaphrodite, but the other gods, fearing this duality, cut of her penis and discarded it. Later, when her mortal lover, Attis, spurns her, she drives him crazy and he amputates his penis and bleeds to death at the base of a pine tree. Thus, Cybele’s cult was run by transgender eunuch priests; the Galli. The orgiastic rites of the cult of Cybele share similarities with the cult of Dionysus. Apparently the priests and other followers, in honor of Cybeles castration, would work themselves into a frenzy, and mutilate and bleed themselves upon violets (representing Attis blood) adorned on a sacred pine tree.

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[estbela]

Wanna make an OC for Phrygia (eventually), the personfication of the phrygian people I guess. In the greek myths, a phrygian king, Midas, had the golden touch (you all probably heard about this tale), so maybe I could do some reference to that. I think they would also love music. Perhaps I'll have them wear a phrygian cap(also known as the liberty cap) as part of their design?