, I «Santoni» di Akrai. Esempi di raffigurazioni musicali del culto di Cibele

This study explores the iconographic evidence of musical performances within the cult of Cybele, focusing on the "Santoni" rock sanctuary at Akrai (Palazzolo Acreide, Sicily). Dating back to the 3rd century BCE, the site comprises twelve rock-cut niches featuring reliefs of the Goddess enthroned, often accompanied by lions, Attis, and the Corybantes. The analysis prioritizes the representation of musical instruments as fundamental ritual markers. Special emphasis is placed on the tympanon (frame drum), a recurring "soundmark" of ecstatic Metroac rituals, and the syrinx (panpipes) associated with the figure of Attis. By cross-referencing these visual depictions with literary sources and broader Mediterranean cultic practices, the article demonstrates how these instruments were not merely symbolic attributes but essential components of the performative and acoustic landscape of the Great Mother’s worship in ancient Sicily.