Attis

This is a beautiful sculpture in the round of the god Attis, the consort of the goddess Cybele. He was a Phrygian deity (recognizable by his soft, conical cap) who became popular in the Late Roman Empire. The piece dates from the 4th century and was found at the Villa Fortunatus archeological site in Fraga, Huesca. It probably served a religious or ornamental purpose linked to funerals or burials. Carved in white marble, the sculpture depicts the deity in a thoughtful pose, with his arms and legs crossed and his hand on his chin. His facial features are lacking in detail. The regular folds in his clothes suggest a style that tends more towards a simplification of form than naturalism.