Cult of cybele.
The Isis cult was seen as very popular during the Republic, however the oriental cult of Cybele was also seen as very popular during this time. The cult of Cybele was a popular cult among many Romans and was highly worshipped and praised.
Cybele also known as the Magna mater or Great Mother. She was an Idaean goddess from Mount Ida. The Asian minor was home of several important cults which later spread to Italy and the Western provinces. Livy a Roman historian comments that “in 213 BC an increasing number of foreign cults appeared in Rome”(Mathew Dillion and Lynda Garland. 2005) he continues on to say that “also men were involved and suggested that war with Hannibal lead to the popularity of foreign cults” (Mathew Dillion and Lynda Garland. 2005). Cybele was introduced towards the end of the Hannibilic war as the Great mother. She was introduced in the Sibylline Books. The Sibylline books were a collection of oracular utterances set out by the Greek Hexameters. The books warned the Romans that they would loose the war, and Hannibal could only be beaten with the help of the Magna Mater. The stone was shipped from Asia and placed in temple specially built in 191 BC for Great Mother. Cybele was declared to be the first Asian deity in Rome. Livy, a Roman historian describes the arrival of Cybele to Rome “204 B.C. About this time the citizens were much exercised by a religious question which had lately come up. Owing to the unusual number of showers of stones which had fallen during the year, an inspection had been made of the Sibylline Books, and some oracular verses had been discovered which announced that whenever a foreign foe should carry war into Italy he could be driven out and conquered if the Mater Magna were brought from Pessinos [in Phrygia] to Rome” (Paul Halsall. 1998. Website). Cybele had powers of fertility, healing and wild nature, as she was often symbolised with lions. The cult matured and was influenced by the Greek philosophy and developed into mysteries with various degrees of initiation and ecstasy. The oriental cults had a stronger appeal to the Romans with their colourful services and processions with music and dancing. The religion taught the worshippers how to free souls from the tyranny of body and suffering. To attain the states of ecstasy, the initiate was born into a new life on Earth and hope for a blessed immortality after death.
The Roman Magistrates did not realise the extreme emotionalism and sensual rites that were associated with the cult. The activities of Cybele’s priests and rite in her honour was seen as most un-Roman and emotional. The self mutilation of the priests was something that wasn't seen before. The senate took action and ruled that “no one was to conduct a sacrifice in public or sacred place according to the strange or foreign rite”(Mathew Dillion and Lynda Garland. 2005). The cult was placed under jurisdiction and no Roman citizen was allowed to become a priest of a Galli. No Roman was also permitted to partake in the procession or worship of the goddess. The cult was subdued until Claudius encouraged it as a rural cult of Isis. Isis had become very popular and was reintroduced under the rule of Caligula.
The rituals that came with this deity shocked the Romans. Those who wished to become a priest for Cybele castrated themselves during mystic rites. The eunuch priests would also perform self mutilation during the ritual dances, later the Romans would be forbidden to partake in the rituals. The Roman poet Martial describes that “They cut your c***off, but not so to bed, C***-lover: what needs doctoring nows you head, For while your missing member can't but fail, Your tongue still breaks Cybele's rule: it's male.” (Elizabeth Abbot, 2006, 76). Martial’s belief about the eunuchs is very negative and bias, because of his negative view on the eunuchs and the cult of Cybele.
Gods such as Attis had died and were extravagantly mourned by Cybele his consort and the followers of the cult. Attis was Cybele’s consort, a Phrygian god of vegetation and in his self mutilation, death and resurrection he represents the fruit of Earth. Cybele was able to resurrect Attis and turn him into a pine tree. This was one of the key features of the Cult that attracted people. The promise of a resurrection and immortality attracted the Romans, as well as the colourful worship and rituals of the deity.
Cybele also known as the Magna mater or Great Mother. She was an Idaean goddess from Mount Ida. The Asian minor was home of several important cults which later spread to Italy and the Western provinces. Livy a Roman historian comments that “in 213 BC an increasing number of foreign cults appeared in Rome”(Mathew Dillion and Lynda Garland. 2005) he continues on to say that “also men were involved and suggested that war with Hannibal lead to the popularity of foreign cults” (Mathew Dillion and Lynda Garland. 2005). Cybele was introduced towards the end of the Hannibilic war as the Great mother. She was introduced in the Sibylline Books. The Sibylline books were a collection of oracular utterances set out by the Greek Hexameters. The books warned the Romans that they would loose the war, and Hannibal could only be beaten with the help of the Magna Mater. The stone was shipped from Asia and placed in temple specially built in 191 BC for Great Mother. Cybele was declared to be the first Asian deity in Rome. Livy, a Roman historian describes the arrival of Cybele to Rome “204 B.C. About this time the citizens were much exercised by a religious question which had lately come up. Owing to the unusual number of showers of stones which had fallen during the year, an inspection had been made of the Sibylline Books, and some oracular verses had been discovered which announced that whenever a foreign foe should carry war into Italy he could be driven out and conquered if the Mater Magna were brought from Pessinos [in Phrygia] to Rome” (Paul Halsall. 1998. Website). Cybele had powers of fertility, healing and wild nature, as she was often symbolised with lions. The cult matured and was influenced by the Greek philosophy and developed into mysteries with various degrees of initiation and ecstasy. The oriental cults had a stronger appeal to the Romans with their colourful services and processions with music and dancing. The religion taught the worshippers how to free souls from the tyranny of body and suffering. To attain the states of ecstasy, the initiate was born into a new life on Earth and hope for a blessed immortality after death.
The Roman Magistrates did not realise the extreme emotionalism and sensual rites that were associated with the cult. The activities of Cybele’s priests and rite in her honour was seen as most un-Roman and emotional. The self mutilation of the priests was something that wasn't seen before. The senate took action and ruled that “no one was to conduct a sacrifice in public or sacred place according to the strange or foreign rite”(Mathew Dillion and Lynda Garland. 2005). The cult was placed under jurisdiction and no Roman citizen was allowed to become a priest of a Galli. No Roman was also permitted to partake in the procession or worship of the goddess. The cult was subdued until Claudius encouraged it as a rural cult of Isis. Isis had become very popular and was reintroduced under the rule of Caligula.
The rituals that came with this deity shocked the Romans. Those who wished to become a priest for Cybele castrated themselves during mystic rites. The eunuch priests would also perform self mutilation during the ritual dances, later the Romans would be forbidden to partake in the rituals. The Roman poet Martial describes that “They cut your c***off, but not so to bed, C***-lover: what needs doctoring nows you head, For while your missing member can't but fail, Your tongue still breaks Cybele's rule: it's male.” (Elizabeth Abbot, 2006, 76). Martial’s belief about the eunuchs is very negative and bias, because of his negative view on the eunuchs and the cult of Cybele.
Gods such as Attis had died and were extravagantly mourned by Cybele his consort and the followers of the cult. Attis was Cybele’s consort, a Phrygian god of vegetation and in his self mutilation, death and resurrection he represents the fruit of Earth. Cybele was able to resurrect Attis and turn him into a pine tree. This was one of the key features of the Cult that attracted people. The promise of a resurrection and immortality attracted the Romans, as well as the colourful worship and rituals of the deity.