Cybele

Cybele or Kybele, known as the Great Mother of the Gods, was a goddess of Phrygian origin from northwest of Asia Minor. Cybele was essentially a mother goddess. She was also known by other names, such as Agdistis and Dindymene.

Some would associate Cybele with the Titaness Rhea (known as Ops to the Romans), consort of Cronus and mother of Zeus.

The myth of Cybele can be found in the Mother Goddesses page.

The Greeks living along the western coasts of Asia Minor naturally came into contact with Cybele as early as the late 6th century BC. Though no name was given in the Homeric Hymn to the Mother of the Gods, it is believed that this goddess was Cybele. Her consort Attis was usually worshipped with her.

Her priests (galli) castrated themselves in honor of Attis before they could serve her in her temple. Her festivals were held on March 15-27 and on April 4. The pine trees were sacred to both Cybele and Attis.

Her cult reached Rome sometime during the 3rd century BC. Her cult reached a new height during the early Roman Empire. During the war against the Carthaginian army in the second Punic War, Rome brought the worship of Cybele from the East because they believed that prophecy indicated that the Romans would only achieve victory against Hannibal if they erected a temple to Cybele, and installed the sacred stone in her new shrine. The mysteries of Cybele remained popular through most of Roman imperial times.