Cybele

Since the beginning of time, man has wondered about the phenomenon of nature. Events such as flood, drought, life, and death have eluded us. It is human nature to formulate cause and effect explanations for such occurrences. Before science, there was only speculation (myth and folklore). What happens when the cause is unobservable, not able to be seen as natural? We come up with supernatural explanations to appease our curiosity. This leads to the personification of such supernatural power, and we form an all-powerful being in our minds.

Carl Jung best describes why this all-powerful being has taken a

Immediately a committee was formed to procure this beloved goddess. She was currently residing in Anatolia, in the form of an aerolith, a shiny black rock (some say it was a meteorite), that was in the shape of a cube (Showeman, 186). A group of 5 was chosen to complete the task.

Her holiday is still celebrated in modern-day Rome, though not as violently and more for recreation than religion. Although her cult may still exist somewhere, it is no longer a main religion. Christianity has taken over Rome.

Cybele is just as much a part of Rome’s history as is Zeus and Apollo and it is important to understand her in order to understand the history of Rome. After she traveled through Greece to Asia Minor, her cult faded out. Cybele is one of the only divine beings who have been worshiped since the beginning of mankind. Therefore, she must be revered as part of our own history as well.

It came to be known, some say rather conveniently, that a new prophecy was discovered within the Sibylline books. The prophecy stated that when the Mother-Goddess is brought over to Greece from Ida (also called Ankara or Anatolia, currently modern Asia), Hannibal would leave Italy (Ferguson, 27). This was not quite enough to convince everyone, however, and for further instruction, the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi was questioned. The Oracle of Apollo revealed that Cybele was indeed supposed to be brought into Rome.

The story is set in Pessinus (the name of her son, and it is also called Phrygia), on Mt. Ogdos, a very long time ago. Cybele was sleeping upon the ground in the form of a rock. She was known for her astonishing beauty, and Zeus (some versions say Jupiter) decided he wanted to take advantage of her oblivious state. He raped her as she slept. For some reason, he decided to let out his fluids on the ground.

She arrived in Rome, coming from Anatolia, in the year 204 BCE (Perowne, 62). Rome was caught up in the middle of the Punic wars, with Hannibal stationed in Italy. Stones (probably hail) were falling from the sky in Greece, resulting in a near frenzy for the people of faith. For the Romans, it was the beginning of a new era. The Senate was still in charge, but the Sibylline books (books of the priestesses of Apollo, associated with prophecy) were dominate over them (Zames, Cybele: History and Attributes).

Some topics in this essay:
Magna Idea, Jung Ferguson, Roman Cybelline, Pessinus Dionysus, Mt Ogdos, Festival Cybele, Pergamum Attalus, Mount Cybelon, Rome Senate, Palatine Hill, archeological evidence, history attributes, cybele history, communion cup, zames cybele history, cybele history attributes, zames cybele, zames nicholas cybele, usually seen, fell love, cybele archeological, zames nicholas, tympanum left hand, bleeding death, nicholas cybele archeological,