Cybele

Mother goddess Kybele of Kurul

A breathtaking statue of the Mother Goddess Cybele, dating back 2100 years, was found at the historic Kurul Castle in Ordu, Türkiye. The statue of the mother goddess is remarkable as the first marble statue found as insutu. The statue, which weighs approximately 200 kilograms and stands 110 centimeters tall, was discovered during excavation work led by Prof. Dr. Süleyman Yücel Şenyurt and his team in 2016. Since its discovery, the statue has attracted thousands of visitors eager to witness this remarkable artifact.

Cybele and her Lion

Cybele riding a lion. Statuette of Cybele, mother of the gods, and queen of nature. Rides a lion; tympanum hangs from left hand. Greek, Late Classical Period, ca. 400 B.C. Image courtesy of online collection of Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

Claudia Quinta (Pro Caelio 34) and an altar to Magna Mater

Among the items of sculpture from the Capitoline collection now housed in the Museum of the Power Station Montemartini is a marble relief altar of the Claudian Period (E. Simon's dating) dedicated to the mater deorum and the navis salvia and depicting the arrival of the goddess Cybele at Rome by ship.

Cybele in a Chariot Driven by Nike and Drawn by Lions

Cybele in a chariot driven by Nike and drawn by lions toward a votive sacrifice (right); above are heavenly symbols including a solar deity, Plaque from Ai Khanoum, Bactria (Afghanistan), 2nd century BC; Gilded silver, ⌀ 25 cm

The Cave of the Sibyl

The Cave of the Sibyl is a subterranean complex beneath the ancient city of Cumae, located on the outskirts of the present-day Metropolitan City of Naples in Campania, Italy. The cave has been associated with the Cumaean Sibyl, a priestess presiding over the Apollonian oracle, who according to legend, prophesied from the depths of the earth beneath the temple to Apollo, where she wrote her prophecies on leaves that were then displayed at the cave’s entrance.

Pessinus - Sanctuary of the Mother Goddess Cybele

In the old tradition of the cult of the goddess Cybele, Pessinus was probably the most religiously significant place of worship for the old Anatolian goddess and the cult that was already practiced around the mythological figure Koubaba during the second millennium BC. In the early Phrygian period of the 8th century BC, the first large, elaborate temple was built, and the founding of the city with King Midas (738 - 696 BC) is even attributed to the cult of Cybele.

Seated Woman of Çatalhöyük

Çatalhöyük figurine (so-called Mother Goddess, terracotta, 5750 BCE). The female figurine, which has been associated with both agricultural and human fertility because of her huge breasts and wide hips, is depicted sitting between two leopards, suggesting a strong social persona. The round shape between her legs might represent the head of a nascent child or, on the other hand, the skull of a reputable forefather.

Cybele seated on chariot puled by lions from the 2nd century AD

The group represents the cult image of the goddess Cybele enthroned on a cart drawn by two lions. Spouts formerly projecting from the open mouths of the lions. The original cart, harness, and throne no longer survive. The rear left wheel is a 19th century restoration.

The archetypal und archaic Anatolian goddess, Cybele, was revered not only throughout Anatolia but also on the neighboring (modern day) Greek islands.

Evidence of her cult can still be seen today in the cave formations and niches carved into hillsides. Her great gift to humanity is the mystery of rebirth.

Many of these caves symbolize the birth canal and end in womb-like forms. On the island of Samos, for example, one enters the caves as if stepping back into the darkness of the womb—not of a biological mother and father, but of the Great Goddess of eternity.

During our journey through Anatolia, we will visit many such places—caves and rock niches where Cybele was likely venerated long before the appearance and unveiling of the many goddesses who later emerged in human consciousness, in our hearts and in our souls.