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Cybele, Mother-Goddess
Cybele is the Phrygian mother-goddess identified with the Greek Goddesses Rhea, Demeter and Bona Dea. The Romans also called her Magna Mater and Mater Turrita. Cybele's birth is a bit of mystery. Most authorities call Cybele the daughter of Meion and Dindyme, hence comes one of her other names, Dindymene. She is also sometimes called the daughter of Uranus and Gaea. Cybele is the mother of Midas by Gordius, who tied the Gordian knot that made Alexander the Great the ruler of Asia when he untied it and fufilled an Oracle's prophecy.
Some myths say she was the hermaphrodite child of Zeus and that the other Gods castrated the creature, which became Cybele, in fear. The castrated genitals then fall to the earth and grow into an almond tree, a river-nymph is impregnated by the fruit of the tree and gives birth to Attis. Cybele fell in love with Attis and she enjoined on him perpetual celebacy, but when he is unfaithful she drives him mad and in a frenzy he castrates himself and dies. a devastated Cybele begs Zeus to preserve Attis' body forever and not let it decay. Attis then becomes a god of vegetation and regeneration.
Cybele was also a protectress of cities and was the first to build walls around the cities that honored her. The cult of Cybele and Attis invloved orgiastic rites, ceremonial purification and ritual baths in the blood of sacred bulls. Cybele's priests were originally eunuchs, as tribute to Attis' sacrifice. Her attendants were called Corybantes and followed her chariot, which was drawn by lions. Cybele's festival is held on April 4.
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