Cybele: Symbols and Myth of The Great Mother Goddess

Cybele is one of the most prominent deities of ancient Anatolia. She was initially worshiped primarily in Phrygia, where she was revered as the Great Mother of the Gods. Over time, her cult spread throughout the ancient world, particularly during the Hellenistic period when Greek culture and religion began to merge with those of the East.

When the Romans conquered the Greek territories, Cybele’s worship did not diminish. Instead, her cult was incorporated into Roman religion, and she became known as Magna Mater, or Great Mother.

Who is The Goddess Cybele?

Numerous cults of Cybele appeared throughout the Roman Empire, where she was associated with fertility, nature, and wild animals. Her presence and influence remained significant for centuries, demonstrating her enduring power and importance in the ancient Mediterranean world.

Working with Goddess Cybele

Cybele is a protector of nature and wild animals and is considered the Great Mother of the Gods. The best way to connect with Cybele, like any goddess or god, is through her mythology, epithets, and symbols. Here’s a summary of the most important myths featuring the goddess Cybele, and how to worship Cybele in your personal pagan practice.

• Mythology
• Symbols of Cybele
• Titles and Epithets of Cybele
• How to Worship Cybele as a Goddess
  • Goddess Cybele Correspondences
  • Offerings to Cybele
  • Invocations & Prayers
• Further reading

Myths of Cybele

The mythology of Cybele is rich, complex, and filled with powerful narratives. Cybele, often referred to as the Great Mother of the Gods, was initially worshiped in Phrygia and later throughout the ancient Mediterranean world.

Cybele and Attis

One of the central myths involving Cybele is her relationship with Attis, a Phrygian deity associated with vegetation. According to the myth, Cybele fell in love with the handsome youth Attis. However, Attis was unfaithful, leading to a tragic outcome. In a fit of madness, Attis castrated himself and died, after which he was transformed into a pine tree. This transformation is symbolic of his connection to vegetation and the cycle of death and rebirth of nature.

Cybele, stricken with grief, brought Attis back to life in some versions of the myth, ensuring that he would die and be resurrected annually, reflecting the cycles of nature.

Cybele and the Curetes

Another important myth involves Cybele and the Curetes, a group of armed dancers who played a role in protecting the infant Zeus. According to the story, the Curetes clashed their weapons and performed war dances to drown out the cries of the newborn Zeus, protecting him from his father, Cronus, who sought to devour him. Cybele is often depicted in the company of these warriors, highlighting her protective and nurturing aspects.

Cybele’s Worship and Influence

Cybele’s worship was marked by intense rituals, often involving music, dancing, and ecstatic practices. Her priests, known as Galli, were eunuchs, symbolizing their devotion to the goddess and reflecting the myth of Attis. The rituals often took place in natural settings, such as mountains and forests, emphasizing her connection to nature.

In Roman mythology, Cybele continued to be associated with fertility and protection. Her festival, known as the Megalesia, was celebrated with great pomp and included games, music, and dramatic performances. Her worship persisted for centuries, reflecting her enduring significance in the mythologies and religions of the ancient Mediterranean.

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Symbols of Cybele

Crown of Towers: One of the most distinctive symbols of Cybele is her crown, often depicted as a mural crown or a crown of towers. This symbolizes her role as a protector of cities and fortifications, emphasizing her influence over civilization and her protective nature.

Lion: Cybele is frequently depicted in the company of lions, which are emblematic of her power and dominion over wild nature. The lions represent strength, courage, and her role as a guardian of the natural world. In many artistic representations, she is shown riding a chariot pulled by lions.

Drum (Tympanum): The tympanum, a type of hand drum, is closely associated with Cybele and her ecstatic rites. The drum symbolizes the rhythm of life and the earth, reflecting her connection to fertility and the natural cycles. It was often used in the frenzied musical rituals that accompanied her worship.

Pine Tree: The pine tree is another significant symbol connected to Cybele, often seen as a representation of her consort, Attis. According to myth, Attis transformed into a pine tree, and thus, the tree symbolizes rebirth and immortality, reflecting the themes of life, death, and resurrection prevalent in Cybele’s mythology.

Chariot: Cybele is often depicted riding a chariot pulled by lions, symbolizing her dominion over both civilization and the untamed forces of nature. The chariot represents her status as a powerful deity who commands respect and veneration.

Mountains: As a goddess of nature, Cybele is frequently associated with mountains, which are seen as her sacred places. Her worship often took place in mountainous regions, and she is sometimes depicted with a mountain on her head or as a part of her throne, signifying her deep connection to the earth and its rugged landscapes.

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Titles and Epithets of Cybele

Cybele, also known as the Great Mother, holds numerous titles and epithets that reflect her multifaceted roles and attributes in ancient mythology and worship.

• Magna Mater (Great Mother): Emphasizes her role as the nurturing mother of gods, humans, and all life.
• Mater Deorum (Mother of the Gods): Highlights her position as the mother of the gods.
• Mountain Mother: Reflects her association with mountains, considered her sacred places.
• Cybebe: An alternate name used in ancient texts, emphasizing her Phrygian origins.
• Dindymene: Derived from Mount Dindymon in Phrygia, a major cult center.
• Agdistis: Associated with her more androgynous and primal aspects in some myths.
• Mater Idaea (Mother of Mount Ida): Refers to her connection to Mount Ida in Asia Minor.

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How to Worship Cybele

In ancient times, her worship included dramatic and ecstatic practices, reflecting her connection to nature, fertility, and wild animals. Modern practitioners continue to honor Cybele through similar practices, embracing natural settings and incorporating elements such as drumming, dancing, and offerings of natural items to connect with her powerful and nurturing energy.

Household Shrines: Devotees would create household shrines dedicated to Cybele, adorning them with symbols like the lion and the crown of towers. These shrines served as focal points for daily prayers and offerings.

Rituals and Ceremonies: Rituals dedicated to Cybele often involved music, dance, and frenzied celebrations. Instruments like the tympanum (hand drum) and cymbals were commonly used to invoke her presence. These practices were meant to connect worshippers with the natural rhythms of the earth and honor Cybele’s role as the Great Mother.

Nature Worship: Cybele is deeply associated with natural settings, particularly mountains and forests. Worshippers might conduct rituals in these natural environments, reflecting her connection to the earth. Sacred groves and mountain sanctuaries were important sites for her veneration.

Gardens and Natural Offerings: Tending to gardens and offering natural elements like flowers, fruits, and grains were common ways to honor Cybele. These practices emphasized her role as a goddess of fertility and nature.

Abstinence and Purification: Some rituals required abstinence and purification, such as ritual baths, to purify oneself in Cybele’s eyes. These practices were part of the preparation for participating in her sacred rites.

Festivals: The Megalesia, held in April, was one of the most important festivals dedicated to Cybele in Rome. It featured games, music, and dramatic performances, reflecting the grandeur and significance of her worship in the ancient world.

Cybele Correspondences

Goddess Cybele Associations: Nature, fertility, protection, wild animals, mountains, ecstatic rituals.

Goddess Cybele Role: Human fertility and procreation, fertility of plants and animals, protector of cities and civilizations, nurturing and sustaining forces of the earth, connecting worshippers with the natural world and its rhythms.

Goddess Cybele Colors: Green, gold.

Goddess Cybele Animals: Lion, bull, bees.

Goddess Cybele Genealogy: Primordial deity without direct parentage.

Cybele Offerings

Prepare an altar to Cybele by lighting green and gold candles and offering natural items like fruits, grains, and flowers. Here are some more ideas for offerings to Cybele:

• Drinks: Wines, honey mead, herbal teas.
• Candles: Green and gold candles, representing nature and divine power.
• Incense and Oils: Frankincense, myrrh, pine, cedar, and cypress.
• Food: Barley, wheat, fruits (especially pomegranates and grapes), honey, nuts.
• Colors: Green, gold, red, and brown.
• Crystals: Emerald, green jade, amber, garnet, carnelian, and agate.
• Flowers: Roses, lilies, and any wildflowers that symbolize her connection to nature.

These offerings reflect Cybele’s attributes as a goddess of nature, fertility, and protection, honoring her nurturing and sustaining influence.

Invocations and Prayers to Cybele

After reading and researching the goddess as much as you can, if you feel that Cybele is calling you, invoke the goddess with a simple prayer and a ritual offering. Here’s a simple solitary ritual template:

1. Take a cleansing bath. You can find ritual bath ideas here.
   
2. Cleanse your candles and your sacred space.
   
3. Cast a circle for reverence and power.
   
4. If you feel like doing so, invite the quarters into your ritual.
   
5. Light the candles and chant an invocation prayer to Cybele. (see below)
   
6. If you have an amulet, bless your amulet.
   
7. Dismiss your circle and ground yourself.

Prayer to Cybele

“Great Mother Cybele, nurturer of nature and protector of all, I call upon you.
Bless this space with your presence and power.
Guide me with your strength and wisdom.
Hail, Magna Mater, and welcome.
Hail, Cybele, majestic and powerful,
We offer our gratitude and devotion,
And welcome your sacred presence into our lives.
So be it.”

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Further Reading

• The Great Mother: An Analysis of the Archetype – Erich Neumann
• In Search of God the Mother: The Cult of Anatolian Cybele – Lynn E. Roller
• Theoi Project: Cybele