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Listed 2 sub titles with search on: Monuments reported by ancient authors  for wider area of: "EBONAS Small town RHODES" .


Monuments reported by ancient authors (2)

Ancient sanctuaries

Sanctuary of Zeus Atabyrian

ATAVYROS (Mountain) RHODES
And (Althaemenes) having ascended the mountain called Atabyrium, he beheld the islands round about; and descrying Crete also and calling to mind the gods of his fathers he founded an altar of Atabyrian Zeus.

As to Atabyrian Zeus and his sanctuary on Mount Atabyrium, Atabyrum, or Atabyris, the highest mountain in Rhodes, Diodorus Siculus tells us that the sanctuary, crowning a lofty peak, was highly venerated down to his own time, and that the island of Crete was visible from it in the distance. Some rude remains of the temple, built of grey limestone, still exist on a summit a little lower than the highest. Atabyrian Zeus would seem to have been worshipped in the form of a bull; for it is said that there were bronze images of cattle on the mountain, which bellowed when some evil was about to befall the state, and small bronze figures of bulls are still sometimes found on the mountain. Further, we know from Greek inscriptions found in the island that there was a religious association which took its name of The Atabyriasts from the deity; and one of these inscriptions records a dedication of oxen or bulls (tous bous) to the god. The oxen so dedicated were probably bronze images of the animals, such as are found in the island, though Dittenberger thought that they were live oxen destined for sacrifice. The worship of Atabyrian Zeus may well have been of Phoenician origin, for we have seen that there was a Phoenician colony in Rhodes and the name Atabyrian is believed to be Semitic, equivalent to the Hebrew Tabor.

This extract is cited Feb 2003 from Perseus Project URL bellow, which contains interesting hyperlinks


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