Attis Playing Pan Pipes

This small terracotta sculpture of a male youth playing pan pipes depicts the Greek and Roman mythological figure of Attis. Shown as an “eastern” shepherd, the youth sits on a rock. Wearing leggings, a cloak, and a Phrygian cap, he plays the pan pipes (syrinx). A dog sits by his right leg. This figure’s attire—leggings and a Phrygian cap—mark him as a foreigner. Indeed, Attis, the mythological character, is from Phrygia, a region in modern-day Turkey. This is a typical representation of Attis. The hollow figurine is largely complete, but losses include the tip of the Phrygian cap and the bottom back edges (including the lower part of the dog’s body). The back of the figure is not modeled.