Goddess
Cybele with Frame Drum: Greek/Roman
From Pre-classic Greece to early Christian
times she represented Gaia, the deified earth, and inherited many attributes of
the ancient Sumerian goddess Inanna . In thess depictions, Cybele's holds the
frame drum; her bowl of prophecy and staring gaze proclaim her power. The
blazing torch symbolizes her bull-consort Attis in resurrection. Saint Peter's
Cathedral stands upon the site of Cybele's temple in Rome. The Sybils at Cumae
were her priestess-oracles.
This Drumming Goddess was worshiped for thousands of years in Babylon, Egypt and
Greece. Regally seated upon her lion embellished throne, we can sense her
queenship as Magna Mater of Rome. During the transition to Christianity,
Cybele's massive temple was replaced by St. Peter's Basilica. Celebrate the
legacy of this Goddess of the Sacred Drum!
Cybele and Hecate: Cybele
and Hecate were leading deities of mystery cults and considered powerful in
divination especially for those at a cross roads, starting a journey or giving
birth. Hecate cradles a torch, Cybele, her drum and offering bowl, and the two
goddesses are no doubt involved in clearing a sacred space to welcome something
wonderful. Perhaps the birth of a child, a business, a new path or a brilliant
idea is being born in their cleared space.
Amazon women worshipped Artemis, Cybele and Hecate as Maiden, Mother and
Crone, and Thracian Bendis was closely allied to Cybele and Hecate. Diodorus
says that the Amazons offered sacrifice to Cybele, Hecate and Artemis and served
as votaries.
The cult of Cybele idolized an earth-goddess of fertility in human, beast, and
field. Her worship was accompanied by the sound of crashing drums and cymbals,
the music of the pipe, and the voices of frenzied votaries. Her inspiration came
as a form of holy madness, which endowed the worshiper with a sense of mystic
ecstasy and supernatural strength.
Cybele's name may have a connection with stone cubes (Kybos means dice). The
material inscribed with Her sacred image brought to Rome in 204 C.E. by order of
the Cumaean Sybil was a black meteorite. Sybil means "cave-dweller"
and is a Latin form of Cybele. The Sybils of Cumae lived in a sacred cavern
dedicated to Triple Hecate which was classically believed to be the entrance to
the underworld.
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