Kybele - the great Earth MotherFor a long time I have hesitated to write about Kybele because it is a so extensive
area. But now it is time to start! The cause is a new coin, a denar of
Julia Domna, where the Empress probably should be identified with the goddess.
Julia Domna, died AD 217(?), wife of
Septimius SeverusAR - Denar, 3.6g, 17.79mm
struck in
Rome, AD 198, under
Septimius Severusobv. IVLIA -
AVGVSTA bust, draped,
bare head, r., hair in five horizontal waves, with broad bun behind
rev. MA -
TER - DEVM
Kybele, richly draped, turreted, sitting l., holding branch in extended r. and
sceptre in l.
hand; left ellbow resting on drum, standing on throne. On each
side of the throne a
lion,
sitting l., the rear only half seen.
RIC IV, 564; C.123;
BMC 54
scarce,
good VF
Kybele, here called
Mater Deorum (mother of gods), we see in one of her
standard depictions. Her attributes are mural-crown, drum and the indispensable lions. There are other depictions too where we see Kybele riding on a
lion or standing in a lin
biga.
Mythology:
The
mythology of Kybele is very extensive. Therefore I have chosen different attempts to describe Kybele, or as my Greek teacher once has said, "that only argues for her complexity which includes the contrariness as well!"
It is said that Kybele is grown from a
stone which Deukalion and Pyrrha have thrown after the Flood. Or her father was Meon,
king of
Phrygia and
Lydia, her mother Dindyma. Meon don't want a daughter and ordered to expose her on the Kybele mountain. There she was nursed by wild beasts. Panthers and other predators gave milk to her until shepherdesses found her and took her with them.
Kybele grow up to a beautiful young woman, stayed decent and rather invented pipes, drums and timbals which became important in the cult of the goddess. Moreover she was engaged in medicine especially for
animals and children which she could heal by her words alone. A close friend was
Marsyas, and her great love
Attis.
When Kybele somewhat later returned to the court of her parents again she was accepted friendly. But soon it was decovered that she was pregnant. Meon in
his rage commanded to kill
Attis and the shepherdesses and to let the bodies unburied.
Kybele in her mourning began to rave nonsensically through the country, howling and beating her drums in company with the piping
Marsyas. They
met Apollo who defeated
Marsyas in the famous musical competition and killed him. After that he joined Kybele and both went to the Hyperboreans. Meanwhile
Phrygia suffered by plague and dearth. Asking an oracle they were said to bury immediatedly the unburied bodies and to worship Kybele. Because they couldn't find the bodies anymore they buried a statue of
Attis and at Pessinus a magnificent temple was erected for Kybele. It was Midas who was engaged in that temple too.
Another myth tells that
Attis has betrayed Kybele and desired the nymph Sagaris. Because of that Kybele has punished him terribly, she has castrated him.
Famous too is her anger at Atalante and Hippomeneus. These two have loved in the sanctuary of Kybele for which the goddess transformed them into lions which
had to pull her cart forever. (Ovid,
Met. 10, 686-704)
Kybele was worshipped in many countries and so she is known under many names. Some of them are Antaia, Asporina, Daucia, Dindymene, Idaea, Maia, Magna
mater,
Mater Deum, Pessinuntia, Phasiane,
Phrygia or Turrita.
Attis:
The bisexual entity Agdistis, another name of Kybele, went through the countries and killed all what she
met. The gods deliberated and
Dionysos was sent to appease Agdistis. He succeeded by making a source giving wine. Agdistis drank the wine and drunk he/she castrated him/her during the sleep. From the cut member a almond tree arose of which Nana, daughter of the river Sangar, put a fruit into her lap and became pregnant. Her child was
Attis with whom Agdistis fall in love. But
Attis wanted to marry the daughter of the
king of Pessinus. Jealously Agdistis drove him into madness and he castrated himself like
his father/mother.
Attis is equal to the eunuchs in the temple ministration of Kybele. These castrated priests were called Galli of which the Archigallus was the highest priest. The autocastration was forbidden for
Romans priests. Because of that the cult of the Megale Meter (greek) resp.Magna
Mater (lat. great Mother) was managed by non-romans, until the interdiction was cancelled by
Claudius. After their emasculation the priests of Kybele were wearing coloured female clothes and decorations.
(will be continued)