DY: Let me lay out my thought process, and you tell me where you disagree.
GIVENS:
1) The Mishnah is referring to actual Avodah Zarah that was worshiped.
Assumptions:
1) The Gemara says it was found at the entrance to every large city, therefore they were common idols.
2) There are common idols that were found at the entrance to major cities that are very similar to what the Mishnah says, as the historical record shows.
2a) We have excellent records of what the Greeks/Romans worshiped and where they kept their idols, so we know what their major gods were and what the idols looked like, including actual remains of actual Shekatzim.
3) The Lashon in the Gemara is too perfect to not be referring to Atlas (look at an idol of Atlas and the Lashon of the Gemara, SheRodeh Es Atzmo…)
4) It is illogical for the Mishnah to be referring to idols that were not as common as idols that were, you know, actually there.
So where do you think I went wrong?