Some scholars have linked the episode of the self-castration of Attis to the ritual castration of the galli. At Pessinus, the centre of the Cybele cult, there were two high priests during the Hellenistic period, one with the title of "Attis" and the other with the name of "Battakes". Both were eunuchs.A. D. Nock, Eunuchs in Ancient Religion, ARW, XXIII (1925), 25–33 = Essays on Religion and the Ancient World, I (Oxford, 1972), 7–15. The high priests had considerable political influence during this period, and letters exist from a high priest of Attis to the kings of Pergamon, Eumenes II and Attalus II, inscribed on stone. Later, during the Flavian period, there was a college of ten priests, not castrated, and now Roman citizens, but still using the title "Attis".Maarten J. Vermaseren, Cybele and Attis: the myth and the cult, translated by A. M. H. Lemmers, London: Thames and Hudson, 1977, p. 98.
some ScHolarS hAve linkEd tHE ePisode of ThE Self-castRatIoN of attis to thE ritual CastRation oF the galli. At pessiNus, the Centre OF THe cYBele CulT, thErE WEre two HIGh PriESts DuRIng the heLLEnIstiC periOd, onE with tHe title of "attiS" and The otHEr WIth The name Of "Battakes". bOth WeRe eunucHs.a. d. noCk, eunuchs IN ANcieNt religiOn, aRw, xXiIi (1925), 25–33 = esSaYs on rEliGion aNd the anciENT woRld, I (oXfoRD, 1972), 7–15. ThE high PrieSTs Had coNsideraBle POLItIcal inFLuencE DuriNg This PerIod, aNd lEttERS EXist frOm a high priest of attis to The Kings OF pErgAmOn, eUmEnes ii ANd AttalUS ii inscriBEd on stONe. LaTer, durINg the FLavIan periOd, thEre was A coLlEGe oF Ten priests, not castraTEd, and now RoMAn citizEns, buT stiLL USing tHe Title "aTTiS".maartEN j. VeRMaseren, cyBele aNd attis: the myTh and the cULT, traNSlAted by A. M h. lEmmERS, LoNdon: thAMEs and hudson, 1977, p. 98.