Source edition
Lucian, Vol. 4. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1925 (printing).
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a geographical and ethnographical report, written from a first-person perspective, depicting the temple of the "Syrian Goddess" in the sacred city of Hierapolis and the ecstatic religious rituals associated with it. After reviewing various ancient temples and cults in Syria and Phoenicia, the author focuses on the temple of Hierapolis, which is claimed to be the most sacred and wealthy, and explores its diverse origins. Central to this history is the dramatic legend of Stratonice and her handsome attendant Combabus, who castrates himself to avoid suspicion of adultery with the queen, later proving his innocence and establishing the origin of the temple's eunuch priests, the "Galloi". The narrative then details the physical layout of the temple, including giant phallic pillars scaled by ascetics, the splendid statues of Hera and Zeus, and the miraculous oracle of Apollo. Finally, the author vividly describes the frenzied initiation of the Galloi through self-castration, along with dietary taboos, pilgrimage rules, and the unique Assyrian custom of offering hair, presenting a detailed and living picture of ancient Near Eastern pagan worship.