Cybele
sib'e-le, or sib-e'le, in classical mythology, the "Great Mother of the Gods." Her worship seems to have originated in Phrygia. Her proper name was Agdistes, but, as she was the goddess of caves, mountains, and the haunts of wild animals, she came to be called Cybele, the Phrygian word for caves. Her priests were called Corybantes, and her rites included wild dances accompanied with drum and fife. She was early identified with the Greek Rhea, and is sometimes called Rhea Cybele. The Romans identified her with their Ops, and used both names--Ops and Cybele. According to the old legend Cybele was the daughter of Maeon, king of Phrygia. Maeon, vexed that the child was not a boy, exposed her on Mount Cybelus. There the infant was nourished by panthers and lions, and later was cared for by the wives of herdsmen. Grown to womanhood, she invented the fife and drum, and by their aid healed diseases of men and beasts. She became enamored of Atys, a beautiful youth. Her parents now recognized and received her, but her father was displeased with her lover, and had him executed. Cybele became demented, and began a long search for Atys.
Among the Greeks, Cybele was regarded as the wife of Cronos and mother of the Olympian gods. She symbolized the fruitfulness of the earth. She was the goddess of vine-growing, agriculture, and town life. During the Second Punic War, the Sibylline Fates prophesied that if Cybele's image were brought to Rome, it would expel a common foe. This image was nothing but a dark, quadrangular, meteoric stone in a cave in the mountains of Phrygia. It was brought to Rome, and thus the worship of Cybele was introduced among the Romans. She was later identified with the Roman Ops, goddess of plenty.
Cybele is represented in ancient art as a matronly woman, usually seated, with lions at her side. Sometimes she wears a mural crown, and a veil is draped about her head, symbolizing the mysterious in nature. Other emblems are a staff, a drum, ears of corn, the sun and moon in either hand. Occasionally she is pictured as riding in a chariot drawn by lions, and bearing a thunderbolt in her hand. These are all symbolic of power, and of Cybele's aid in advancing civilization.