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Cook, Arthur B.
Zeus: a study in ancient religion (Band 3,1): Zeus god of the dark sky (earthquake, clouds, wind, dew, rain, meteorits): Text and notes — Cambridge, 1940

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https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14698#0994

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Kybele and meteorites

893

the remarkable epithet Astrochiton, ' He of the Starry Robe1.'
Since the Tyrians treated the celestial Herakles (Melqarth2) as
consort of the celestial Astarte3, the two explanations are not
necessarily irreconcilable.

(c) Kybele and meteorites.

An odd tale, which associates Kybele with the fall of a meteorite,
is told by Aristodemos4 of Alexandreia, a pupil of Aristarchos5.
It appears that a certain flute-player named Olympichos was being
instructed by Pindar on the mountain where he used to practise.
Suddenly there was a loud report, and a flame came flashing
downwards. Pindar, perceiving it, discerned a stone image of the
Mother of the gods falling at his feet. Whereupon he set up close
to his house an image of the Mother of the gods and of Pan.
Meantime the citizens sent to enquire of the god concerning the
portent. He bade them build a sanctuary for the Mother of the
gods. So, astonished at Pindar's anticipation of the oracle, they
joined the poet in his cult of the goddess.

We have here, if I am not mistaken, an attempt to give
historicity to a myth. Pindar teaching the flute-player Olympichos
°n a mountain-side is but Pan teaching the flute-player Olympos6,
ePonym of the Mysian mountain7. If historical happenings may
g»ve rise to myths, it is also true that myths may give rise to
would-be historical happenings.

The story is of interest, however, because it suggests a meteoric
0rigin not only for the sacred stone of the Mother in her temple on
the Mysian Ide8, but also for her 'Zeus-fallen image9' at Pessinous
*n Phrygia. This celebrated image is expressly said to have dropped

1 Norm. Dion. 40. 367 ff. (Dionysos at Tyre) et's d6fiov 'Atrrpoxlruvos indfiaffe, kcu
vP&/j.ov atrrpav | TO-lov fj0(,wv iKa\iffaaTO iiiaTiSi (pwvrj- \ ''knTpox^uv "HpaxXes, avaf
"■"pis, Spxa/xe nbo-p-ov, | 'HAic, k.t.X. Ib. 408, 413, 422, 423.
Supra i. 356, ii. 762.

Sir G. F. Hill in The Church Quarterly Review 1908 lxvi. 133, 139 f., id. in the
J<»*rn. Hell. Stud. 1911 xxxi. 61.

Aristodem. ap. schol. Pind. Pyth. 3. 137 b.

E. Schwartz in Pauly—Wissowa Keal-Enc. ii. 925.

P. Weizsacker in Roscher Lex. Myth. iii. 860 ff. is curiously blind to this rather
obvious parallel.

Supra i. 100, ii. 953 n. 2.

Claud, de rapt. Pros. 1. 202 f. hie sedes augusta deae templique colendi j relligiosa
Sllex (M. Platnauer mistranslates 'the sacred statue').

Herodian. 1. n. 1 o.vto piv rb ayaXfia dinreris dual \4yovaiv, k.t.X. On the
a Jective see supra ii. 481, 963 n. o.
 
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