http://hoc.elet.polimi.it/policultura/ One of the most precious items of the archaeological museum in Milan is the patera of Parabiago, a big plate dedicated to the cult of the goddess Cybele, of oriental origin. The plate pictures goddess Cybele and her mortal lover Attis at the centre of a cosmogony map, with symbols of life, death and rebirth. This ritual object is especially valuable since it belongs to a time where pagan cults, as the ones dedicated to Cybele or Mitra, coexisted with the rising Christian religion. it Politecnico di Milano - Italy No Laboratorio HOC, Politecnico di Milano - Italy One of the most precious items of the archaeological museum in Milan is the patera of Parabiago, a big plate dedicated to the cult of the goddess Cybele, of oriental origin. The plate pictures goddess Cybele and her mortal lover Attis at the centre of a cosmogony map, with symbols of life, death and rebirth. This ritual object is especially valuable since it belongs to a time where pagan cults, as the ones dedicated to Cybele or Mitra, coexisted with the rising Christian religion. 13 SEP 2006 10:43:55 +0100WED, 13 SEP 2006 10:43:55 +0100 http://www.poliarcheo.it/romana/ENG/podcast/2.mp4 http://www.poliarcheo.it/romana/ENG/podcast/2.mp4 Laboratorio HOC, Politecnico di Milano - Italy Laboratorio HOC, Politecnico di Milano - Italy The "patera of Parabiago" is an ornamental massive silver plate illustrating and depicting religious themes. Masterfully crafted, it weights up to 3.5 kilos and some of its decorated parts were heightened in gold with a mercury gilding process. It must have been used in rituals dedicated to the adoration of the goddess Cybele. It was discovered at Parabiago (near Milan), during some civil excavations. It is thought to have been ordered and made during emperor Flavius Claudius Julianus, in IV century A.D., at a time characterized by the rebirth of paganism in Milan. 13 SEP 2006 10:43:55 +0100WED, 13 SEP 2006 10:43:55 +0100 http://www.poliarcheo.it/romana/ENG/podcast/2.1.mp4 http://www.poliarcheo.it/romana/ENG/podcast/2.1.mp4 Laboratorio HOC, Politecnico di Milano - Italy Laboratorio HOC, Politecnico di Milano - Italy According to some interpretations, the patera resembles a cosmogony map, of pagan inspiration. In the upper part the sun and the moon are represented on the left there is the chariot of the sun with an upright torchlight while on the right part the chariot of the moon with the lowered torchlight. In the centre there are Cybele and Attis, her mortal lover to whom Zeus allowed immortality, on a chariot drawn by lions. Near, there is Time, represented both in his annual running through the circle of zodiac and as Aion, personification of eternal and immutable time in the Greek world. A snake is depicted at the extreme right, twisted around an obelisk; the snake is the symbol of life after death, for after changing skin hes still alive, he never dies. Under the chariot of Attis and Cybele there are the four seasons, represented by four little angels carrying the fruits of every season. In the lower part the scene is closed by the god Ocean together with the Nymphs of rivers and the earth with the horn of plenty, symbol of abundance. 13 SEP 2006 10:43:55 +0100WED, 13 SEP 2006 10:43:55 +0100 http://www.poliarcheo.it/romana/ENG/podcast/2.2.mp4 http://www.poliarcheo.it/romana/ENG/podcast/2.2.mp4 Laboratorio HOC, Politecnico di Milano - Italy Laboratorio HOC, Politecnico di Milano - Italy In Greek mythology, Cybele, the mother of the gods, was in love with Attis, a shepherd. When Attis betrayed her with a shepherdess, Cybele was driven mad by jealousy. When he was asleep, she either evirated him or, according to a different version, drove him mad and he evirated himself. At this point she realized what she had done and, repentant, asked and obtained from Zeus to bring him back to life. The cult of the goddess Cybele was thus dedicated to the idea of rebirth and life after death. It was very diffused in the IV century pagan world, at the same time with the pagan cult of Mitra, but also with the Christian religion. 13 SEP 2006 10:43:55 +0100WED, 13 SEP 2006 10:43:55 +0100 http://www.poliarcheo.it/romana/ENG/podcast/2.3.mp4 http://www.poliarcheo.it/romana/ENG/podcast/2.3.mp4 Laboratorio HOC, Politecnico di Milano - Italy Laboratorio HOC, Politecnico di Milano - Italy IV-century Milan witnesses the coexistence of a fervent Christian and pagan cults, among which the ones dedicated to Cybele and Mitra. Ritual objects from that time, such as the patera of Parabiago, for pagan devotion, and the Capsella of Saint Nazaro (now at Museo Diocesano of Milan), for Christian devotion, are evidence of how different cults could exist and be celebrated at the same time. Not much later, in the second half of the IV century, Milan entered the era of bishop Ambrose, characterized by a strong rejection of paganism that leads to its complete abolishment. 13 SEP 2006 10:43:55 +0100WED, 13 SEP 2006 10:43:55 +0100 http://www.poliarcheo.it/romana/ENG/podcast/2.4.mp4 http://www.poliarcheo.it/romana/ENG/podcast/2.4.mp4 Laboratorio HOC, Politecnico di Milano - Italy Laboratorio HOC, Politecnico di Milano - Italy