Fertility, protective male gods and cults in Anatolia

IX Fertility Protective Male Gods and Cults in Anatolia Summary: The first religious thoughts through to the necessities and scares of the hunter-gatherer economy have been first occurred in Anatolia by the Paleolithic Age. Especially the bestial fertility has been formed with the ithyphallic gods and, bulls, which were needed into their power. On tiie other hand during the Neolithic Age the vegetal fertility, which has been gained rather much importance with the agricultural economy, has been formed with the prolific women/mother goddess in the primitive symbolic art. However, even in this new economy the earlier male gods, with their fecundate function will go on to take a place in the fertility beliefs. On the base to the wall paintings and the plastic arts that has been found out from the Neolithic settlements, the male bestial fertility identity is represented with the traditional bull figure. Beside the ithyphallic god motives, phallic models with their fertility meaning begin to occur. This symbolic expressions are seen in the Chalcolithic Period as well. The male gods become widespread with their fertility and protective meanings in the Bronze Age. In the pantheon of Hittites the ithyphallic gods and the phallic spring rituels become prevalent with the orgiastic and coribandel symposia. In the Iron Age especially the Phrygian originated gods like Attis, Sabazios and Dionysus are depicted with the phallic symbols in the coribandel and orgiastic rites. The reflection of these gods to the Hellenic and Roman world are best observed in the vase paintings from the 6* -5th century BC. In these paintings the erected phalluses are carried as fertility symbol during fertility fests of Dionysus. These Anatolian originated exuberant spring rites, related to Dionysus, Attis and Sabazios become widespread in Greece and it influenced the Roman world as well. Particularly the phallus grave stelai tradition, which was first occurred with Phrygian and Lydian tumuli custom, become to use as an element of ordinary burials in Greece and Roman world. Another Anatolian originated god Priapos, from Lapsakos, with his abnormal measured phallus is a ithyphallic god, who protects and fertilizes the wine yards of Anatolia. He is respected and honored in Greece especially in rural areas. Although he is mentioned inthe comical stories, because of his abnormal image, he is worshipped in Rome as well. On the other hand Arcadian Pan is a god, who begins to occur rather late and never become that much popular in Anatolia. Hermes however, with its hhyphallic character as herm, had a widespread usage on the roads, buildings and graves. During the Roman Period in Anatolia the popularity of the phallus shaped amulets getting increased. The depiction of the phallus with its apothropeic character is used against to the evils and bad powers beside the graves at the public or civil buildings as well. At the same time this symbol was also very popular as a jewelry. Such kind of cults particularly in France and Italy are not abandoned until the 17.th century. Especially during the Ottoman Period in the marginal Sufi lodges, and today during celebrations of agricultural fertility festivals at the villages or in the superstitions, these ancient male fertility and protective rites can still be seen in Anatolia.