Rock relief in Philippi depicting the Greco-Roman goddess Diana as the Thracian goddess Bendis; she wears a short chitoniskos and endromides (soft boots). She is armed with a bow in her left hand, and with her right, she draws an arrow from her quiver. She is accompanied by a deer and a dog. The figure is placed within a pedimented structure supported by two Corinthian columns. On the left, there is a votive inscription to Diana (the Roman goddess equivalent to Greek Artemis), dedicated by the Roman Rutilius Maximus (Diane sacru(m) Rutilius Maximus). It is a fascinating example of religious syncretism and the coexistence of diverse population groups in the city and the wider region (Thracians, Greeks, Romans). The cult of the Thracian goddess Bendis is attested in Philippi by an inscription and the theophoric name Bendis, which appears several times.
Caption Rock relief depicting the Greco-Roman goddess Diana as the Thracian goddess Bendis
Mythic people Bendis (Goddess)
Type Relief
Origin Ancient Philippi (northwest of Basilica A)
Current position Archaeological site of Philippi
Index number 306
Dating 2nd-3rd century AD
Notes
Archimage, inv. no. 39479 (efa.gr)
Archimage, inv. no. 39477 (efa.gr)
Βιβλιογραφία:
(για το συγκεκριμένο ανάγλυφο βλ. σελς. 37-40, 222-225, αρ. 8 (306), εικ. 18, 19)
Χ. Κουκούλη-Χρυσανθάκη – Γ. Καραδέδος, Θέατρο Φιλίππων. Νέα ευρήματα στα ανάγλυφα των βράχων, στο: Amicitiae Gratia, Τόμος στη μνήμη Αλκμήνης Σταυρίδη, Αθήνα 2008, 203-226.
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Myths