THE KAKASBOS/HERAKLES CULT: A STUDY OF ITS ORIGINS, DIFFUSION AND POSSIBLE SYNCRETISMS A Master’s Thesis by ASLI CANDAŞ Department of Archaeology and Art History Bilkent University Ankara September 2006 THE KAKASBOS/HERAKLES CULT: A STUDY OF ITS ORIGINS, DIFFUSION AND POSSIBLE SYNCRETISMS The Institute of Economics and Social Sciences of Bilkent University by ASLI CANDAŞ In partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS IN ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF ART in THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF ART BILKENT UNIVERSITY ANKARA September 2006 I certify that I have read this thesis and have found that it is fully adequate, in scope and in quality, as a thesis for the degree of Master of Arts in Archaeology and Art History. ......................... Dr. Jacques Morin Supervisor I certify that I have read this thesis and have found that it is fully adequate, in scope and in quality, as a thesis for the degree of Master of Arts in Archaeology and Art History. ................................... Assc. Prof.Dr. İlknur Özgen Examining Committee Member I certify that I have read this thesis and have found that it is fully adequate, in scope and in quality, as a thesis for the degree of Master of Arts in Archaeology and Art History. ........................................... Assc. Prof. Dr. İnci Delemen Examining Committee Member Approval of the Institute of Economics and Social Sciences ............................... Prof.Dr. Erdal Erel Director ABSTRACT THE KAKASBOS/ HERAKLES CULT: A STUDY OF ITS ORIGINS, DIFFUSION AND POSSIBLE SYNCRETISMS Candaş, Aslı M.A, Department of Archaeology and History of Art Supervisor: Dr. Jacques Morin September 2006 This thesis analyzes the local rider-god cult of Kakasbos/Herakles wihin an iconographical and religious framework. The possible origins and reasons for the popularity of the cult and possible syncretisms with other gods worshipped in Northern Lycia will be discussed alongside a presentation of Kakasbos/Herakles depictions in different media. The importance of the rider image and the widespread popularity of the rider-heros in the Late Roman Art will also be studied. Keywords: Kakasbos, Herakles, Rider god. I ÖZET KAKASBOS/ HERAKLES KÜLTÜNÜN KÖKENLERİ, DAĞILIMI VE OLASI SENKRETİZMLER Candaş, Aslı Yüksek Lisans, Arkeoloji ve Sanat Tarihi Bölümü Tez Yöneticisi: Dr Jacques Morin Eylül 2006 Bu çalışma Kakasbos/Herakles kültünü iknografik ve dinsel bir çerçeve içinde incelemektedir. Bu çalışma, tez yazım sürecini tarihsel bir çerçeve içinde incelemiştir. Bu inanışın ortaya çıkışı ve yaygınlaşmasına dair olası nedenler, Kakasbos/Herakles inanışı ve bölgede tapınılan diğer tanrılar arasında senkretizmler, tanrının değişik malzemelerdeki betimleriyle birlikte incelenecektir. Atlı figürünün önemi, atlı kahramanların Geç Roma sanatıda yaygın kullanımı da sunulacaktır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Kakasbos, Herakles, Atlı Tanrı. II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank to my thesis comitee for their support and advices. I am grateful to Doç Dr. İlknur Özgen for introducing this topic to me and for giving me courage i needed in order to finish my graduate studies. I am debtful to Dr. Jacques Morin for his careful and selfless concern to my thesis. Words are inadequate for me to express my thanks to Doç. Dr. İnci Delemen, who shared her expertise on the subject with me. I would also like to express thanks to my family and friends who helped me with my studies, in particular to my uncle Murat Sayın for his help and support. III TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................... iii ÖZET ............................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................ v TABLE OF CONTENTS .....................................................................................vi LIST OF FIGURES..............................................................................................viii CHAPTER1: INTRODUCTION.............................................................................1 CHAPTER 2 – GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY OF LYCIA................................5 2.1 Geography.....................................................................................................5 2.2 Roads.............................................................................................................8 2.3 History of Lycia.............................................................................................9 CHAPTER 3 – THE INTRODUCTION OF KAKASBOS INTO ARCHAEOLOGICAL LITERATURE AND ETYMOLOGICAL DISCUSSIONS......................................................................................................20 3.1 History of Scholarship and Etymology.......................................................20 3.2 Iconography of the Cult...............................................................................23 CHAPTER 4 – PROBLEMS IN DATING AND PROVENANCES....................33 CHAPTER 5 – STONE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE RIDER GOD KAKASBOS/HERAKLES....................................................................................38 5.1 Catalogue and Discussions.........................................................................38 5.2 Workshops – Can We Talk about a Stele Industry?..................................53 IV CHAPTER 6 – COIN EVIDENCE....................................................................56 CHAPTER 7 – REPRESENTATIONS OF KAKASBOS/HERAKLES IN OTHER MEDIA.................................................................................................61 CHAPTER 8 – MASEIS....................................................................................64 CHAPTER 9 – THE RELIGIOUS SIDE OF THE KAKASBOS/HERAKLES CULT.....................................................................................................................67 9.1 The question of Syncretisms.......................................................................67 9.1.1 Herakles....................................................................................................69 9.1.2 The Dioskouroi.........................................................................................72 9.1.3 Mithras.....................................................................................................75 9.1.4 The Thracian and Danubian Riders.........................................................78 9.2 Discussion....................................................................................................81 9.3 Why did the Cult Propagate?......................................................................84 CHAPTER 10 - CONCLUSION..........................................................................86 SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY.................................................................................89 FIGURES..............................................................................................................98 V LIST OF FIGURES Fig.1 Herakles riding a donkey/mule, Rhodes. (Robert 1946: 73, pl. IV).........101. Fig.2 Herakles riding a donkey/mule, Athenian Agora (Athens Agora Museum. T.2466; Thompson, 1948: 180 pl.60, 2; 1966 14-15 pl. 6)................................101. Fig. 3 Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, Rome. (Junkelmann, 1990: 29)...101. Fig.4 Equestrian Statue of Nonius Balbus, Naples. (Junkelmann, 1990: 30)......................................................................................................................101. Fig. 5 Funerary Stele with the Thracian Rider. (Goceva & Oppermann 1979, frontispiece)........................................................................................................102 Fig.6 Frieze block from Building G, Xanthos (Metzger, 1963: table 38). .......102. Fig. 7 Frieze block from building G, Xanthos (Metzger, 1963: table 38). ........102. Fig. 8 Frieze block from building G, Xanthos(Metzger, 1963: table 38)...........102. Fig. 9 Frieze block from Daskyleion (Borchardt, 1976: table 30-31)................103. Fig. 10 Map of Lycia with findspots and Rock-Cut sanctuaries of Kakasbos/Herakles...................................................................................... ......104. Fig. 11 Uninscribed stele, provenance unknown, Burdur Museum (Delemen, 1999: 91, fig.3) ..................................................................................................105. Fig. 12 Uninscribed stele, provenance unknown, Burdur Museum (Delemen, 1999: 92, fig. 4) .................................................................................................105. VI Fig. 13 Uninscribed stele, provenance unknown, Burdur Museum (LIMC VI 1-2 1992: 1083 no.19 pl. 720) ................................................................................105. Fig. 14 Uninscribed stele, provenance unknown, Burdur Museum (LIMC VI 1-2 1992: 1083 no. 26 pl. 721). ..............................................................................105 Fig. 15 Uninscribed stele, provenance unknown, Antalya Museum (Delemen, 1999: 106, fig. 51)........................................................................................... 105. Fig. 16 Votive stele of Herakles, from Fethiye, İzmir Museum (Frei, 1990: 1808 no 6.10.6)........................................................................................................106. Fig. 17 Votive stele of Herakles, provenance unknown, Burdur Museum (Delemen, 1999: 114, fig. 8) .........................................................................106.