Paper title:
 The Mother of Gods in the Pontic Regions: Syncretism, Local Adaptation, and Religious Interaction
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4316/CC.2025.01.01
Published in:
Issue 1 (Vol. 31) / 2025
Publishing date:
2025-07-31
Pages:
7 - 36
Author(s):
Serkan DEMİREL, Hasan Umut KIVRAK, Elif YAVUZ ÇAKMUR
Abstract:
 The cult of the Mother of the Gods, which spanned from the Late Iron Age to the Early Ro-man Period in the Pontic regions, reflects a complex and multilayered religious landscape deeply rooted in the practices of local communities. This cult was not limited by conven-tional boundaries but constituted a significant part of a broader network of religious in-teraction extending beyond the mentioned areas. Archaeological findings and epigraphic evidence point to various names attributed to the goddess, each having different regional interpretations and perceptions over time. The use of expressions such as "Mother of Pon-tos" highlights the goddess’s strong geographical and cultural connection to the region, underscoring the integration of local traditions with wider religious practices. The incor-poration of local deities into this cult reveals the syncretic and adaptable nature of re-gional belief systems, demonstrating their capacity to evolve and respond to changing circumstances. Such processes of religious interaction and adaptation illustrate the dy-namic, flexible, and interconnected nature of ancient religious structures in the Pontic regions, contributing to a deeper understanding of the area’s cultural and religious diver-sity.
Keywords:
 Pontic Regions, Mother of Gods, syncretism, religion, local characteristics




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