Cybele (also called Kybele and Cybebe) is an Anatolian mother goddess. She was originally worshipped in Phrygia, a kingdom in Asia Minor, however her cult spread to Greece and Rome. She was considered the goddess of fertility, nature, wild animals, mountains, motherhood and agriculture as well as the "Mother of the Gods" and the "Mother of all life".
Family and Genealogy[]
There are numerous accounts on Cybele's origins, by one account she is the daughter of the Sky God and the Earth Goddess which were in Greece equated to Zeus and Gaia.
However another account states she was born without parents, having always been in existence.
Cybele's consort was Attis, a castrated shepherd and a god of vegetation and fertility.
She was listed as the mother of Midas, Sabazios-Dionysus, as well as the first of the Korybantes- Korybas by Iasion (the Samothrakian counterpart of Attis), Alke-Kybele by Olympos, Agiditis by Zeus and Nicaea by Sangarius, a Phrygian river god, in Greek Mythology. In one account, Aura the goddess of the breeze is listed as her daughter too.
Role and Significance[]
Cybele is the personification of the Earth, and the goddess of fertility, nature, wild animals and mountains in Anatolian mythology. She was worshipped by the Phrygians likely as their national goddess, who also believed she had the power to spare mankind from the sometime destructive cycles of nature thus Cybele was also viewed as a protector of civilisation. Her cult spread to Greece and later Rome.
In Ancient Greece, Cybele became associated with goddesses such as Gaia, Demeter and Rhea. She was called the "Mother of all gods and of all human beings" in the Homeric Hymn and city states such as Athens, evoked her as a protector. Many of her cults included rites to her consort, Attis. In Greece, Cybele became associated with mountains, town and city walls, fertile nature and wild animals, especially lions.
In Ancient Rome, Cybele's significance was carried on, she was called Magna Mater (meaning: Great Mother) and became an important symbol of the empire. A major cult was established to the goddess, consisting of Galli: castrated male temple attendants who dressed in women's clothing, grew their hair long and fragranced with ointment and celebrated the goddess with wild music and dancing along with priestesses until their frenzied excitement lead to self scourging, self-laceration, or exhaustion. Festivals in honour of Cybele and Attis were held in spring and included games, feasts, and sacrifices.
Appearance and Personality[]
Cybele was depicted in art as a heavy woman, like other fertility deities across many cultures, later on she was shown as a pregnant woman dressed in fine clothing. She was connected to various mountain dwelling animals, such as the lion and hawk. She was often shown or described, sitting in a chariot drawn by a team of lions, with her throne surrounded by many wild animals, as well, acting as her attendants.
As Magna Mater in the Roman Empire, she was depicted wearing a crown and a veil, typically seated either on a throne or on a chariot drawn by two lions.
Stories[]
In Anatolian Mythology, Cybele was believed to have been born a Hermaphrodite, however her male parts were later castrated turning her into a female.
There are a few myths of Cybele in Greek and Roman mythology: One story tells that Cybele fell in love with a shepherd named Attis, who was very handsome and much younger than her and became furious when she found out that he was in love with a Nymph named Sagaris. Cybele showed up to the couple's wedding feast and terrified the guests and Attis so much that Attis fled to a mountain where he fell at the base of a pine tree and in a state of madness mutilated his body and bled to death where he lay. Cybele, came to deeply regret her actions and mourned the loss of Attis. Jupiter (the Roman equivalent of Zeus) however came to assure Cybele that the pine tree would become forever sacred and the tree was adopted by the priests of Cybele, the Galli
Another story tells that Cybele whilst sleeping in the form of a rock was raped by Zeus, whose rape was unsuccessful as he spilt his seed beside her, however due to her hyper-fertility, Cybele became pregnant nonetheless and birthed a hideous, dual-sex monster named Agdistis. Pausanias, the second century Greek author wrote:
"[T]he gods, fearing Agdistis, cut off the male organ.There grew up from it an almond-tree with its fruit ripe, and a daughter of the river Sangarius, they say, took of the fruit and laid it in her bosom, when it at once disappeared, but she was with child. A boy was born, and exposed, but was tended by a he-goat. As he grew up his beauty was more than human, and Agdistis fell in love with him. When he had grown up, Attis was sent by his relatives to Pessinus, that he might wed the king’s daughter.The marriage-song was being sung, when Agdistis appeared, and Attis went mad and cut off his genitals, as also did he who was giving him his daughter in marriage. But Agdistis repented of what he had done to Attis, and persuaded Zeus to grant that the body of Attis should neither rot at all nor decay."
Powers and Abilities[]
As a goddess, Cybele is immortal with eternal youth and immune to tiredness, any type of illness, disease or disorder, having perfect health.
Cybele is in control of all plant life and fertility and she herself is hyper fertile being able to become pregnant without direct contact.
Symbols[]
Cybele's Symbols include the Turret Crown, Cymbal and Fir Tree. Her sacred animal is the Lion, one of her closest companions.
Relationships[]
Korybas- According to the Diodorus Siculus, Korybas is her son with Iasion, the Samothrakian counterpart of Attis, Korybas was the first of The Korybantes who are in Cybele's retinue.
Attis- The love interest of Cybele who died a tragic death who is also considered her consort, despite being deceased.
Trivia[]
Cybele's official Greek name is Κυβηλη which means 'of Mount Cybele' in Greek and possibly means "Mountain Mother' in Phrygian.
Her Roman equivalent is called Magna Mater.
Sources[]
https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/goddesses/cybele/
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/lgbtq-history/the-galli/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Galli-ancient-priests
https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-goddess-cybele-in-mythology.html
https://www.theoi.com/Phrygios/Kybele.html