ladykrampus reblogged
Roman Red Jasper Gemstone Depicting Mēn, 2nd-3rd Century AD
Mēn was a lunar god worshipped in the western interior parts of Anatolia. He is attested in various localised variants, such as Mēn Askaenos in Antioch in Pisidia, or Mēn Pharnakou at Ameria in Pontus.
Mēn is often found in association with Persianate elements, especially with the goddess Anahita. Lunar symbolism dominates his iconography. The god is usually shown with the horns of a crescent emerging from behind his shoulders, and he is described as the god presiding over the (lunar) months. Strabo describes Mēn as a local god of the Phrygians. Mēn may be influenced by the (feminine) Zoroastrian lunar divinity Mah, but his male sex is apparently due to the Mesopotamian moon god Sin.
Source: auktionen.gmcoinart.de
#history#roman#gemstone#mythology#phrygian#jasper#men#moon god#sin#antiquities#art#treasure#2nd century ad#3rd century ad#archaicwonder#1st#February#2017#February 1st 2017#make it look like i'm still on#most tags not mine#tags preserved for the commentary of the OP only#or index and search features of this blog