ZEITGEIST: THE MOVIE

sanctum sanctorum of the sanctuary, where the devotees of Attis celebrated the Natalis
Invicti... 120
The Natalis Invicti is the ―Birth of the Unconquered One,‖ referring to the sun. This contention is
reasonable when one considers that Attis himself was evidently a sun god, as related by Brandeis
University professor of Classical Studies Dr. Patricia A. Johnston:
G. Thomas...traces the development of the idea of resurrection with regard to Attis, [which]
seems to be firmly established approximately by the time of Firmicus Maternus and the Neo-
Platonists, i.e., the fourth century A.D. By this time, ―Attis is now conceived of as a higher cosmic
god, even the Sun-god.... At the solstice...symbolically Cybele is seen to have paled before the
ascendant Attis...‖ 121
Moreover, at times the young Attis was merged with Mithra, 122 whose birthday was traditionally held on
December 25 th and with whom he shared the same Phrygian capped attire. As we have seen, the Natalis
Invicti was traditionally the birth of Mithra and Sol Invictus.
In this regard, as Dr. Fear relates:
Allegorical readings of metroac mythology allowed the cult to be integrated into the popular cult of
Sol Invictus. Attis became emblematic of the sun god, and Cybele of the mother earth. 123
To summarize, as Sol Invictus or the Unconquered Sun—again, who is likewise identified with Mithra—
Attis too would have been depicted as having been born on December 25 th or the winter solstice, the time
of the Natalis Invicti. 124
Marble bust of Attis wearing Phrygian cap
2 nd cent. AD/CE
(Paris)
Mithra in a Phrygian cap
2 nd cent. AD/CE
Rome, Italy
(British Museum, London)
Crucified: The myths of Attis‘s death include him being killed by a boar or by castrating himself under a
tree, as well as being hung on a tree or ―crucified.‖ Indeed, he has been called the ―castrated and
crucified Attis.‖ 125 Again, it should be noted that the use of the term ―crucified‖ in ZG1.1 and elsewhere,
such as concerns gods like Horus and Attis, does not connote that he or they were thrown to the ground
and nailed to a cross, as we commonly think of crucifixion, based on the Christian tale. As we have seen,
120 Vermaseren, CARC, 408.
121 Vermaseren, CARC, 108.
122 Vermaseren, CARC, 108.
123 Vermaseren, CARC, 43.
124 Halsberghe, 159.
125 Harari, 131.