In Search of God the Mother: The Cult of Anatolian CybeleThis book examines one of the most intriguing figures in the religious life of the ancient Mediterranean world, the Phrygian Mother Goddess, known to the Greeks and Romans as Cybele or Magna Mater, the Great Mother. Her cult was particularly prominent in central Anatolia (modern Turkey), and spread from there through the Greek and Roman world. She was an enormously popular figure, attracting devotion from common people and potentates alike. This book is the first comprehensive assembly and discussion of the entire extant evidence concerning the worship of the Phrygian Mother Goddess, from her earliest appearance in the prehistoric record to the early centuries of the Roman Empire. Lynn E. Roller presents and analyzes literary, historiographic, and archaeological data with equal acuity and flair. While previous studies have tended to emphasize the more outrageous aspects of the Mother Goddess's cult, such as her orgiastic rituals and the eunuch priests who attended her, this book places a special focus on Cybele's position in Anatolia and the ways in which the identity of the goddess changed as her cult was transmitted to Greece and Rome. Roller gives a detailed account of the growth, spread, and evolution of her cult, her ceremonies, and her meaning for her adherents. This book will introduce students of Classical antiquity to many aspects of the Great Mother which have been previously unexamined, and will interest anyone who has ever been piqued by curiosity about the Mother Goddess of the ancient Western world. |
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Contents
Prolegomenon to a Study of the Phrygian Mother Goddess | 9 |
The Evidence from Prehistory | 27 |
The Bronze and Early Iron Ages | 41 |
The Cult of the Mother Goddess in Phrygia | 63 |
The Early Cult | 119 |
The Classical Period | 143 |
The Hellenistic Period | 187 |
The Myth of Cybele and Attis | 237 |
The Arrival of the Magna Mater in Rome | 263 |
The Republic and Early Empire | 287 |
The Roman Goddess in Asia Minor | 327 |
Epilogue | 345 |
Bibliography | 347 |
Index | 363 |
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Common terms and phrases
activities addressed Anatolian ancient appears association Athenian Attis attributes become castration central century B.C. chapter clearly close connection cult of Meter Cybele dedicated deity depicting described Devreker discussion divinity earlier early evidence examples facades female figure figurines followers frequently gods Gordion Greece Greek Hellenistic holding honor human identity illustrated important indicate individual influence inscriptions interest Italy known Kybele late later lion Magna Mater male matriarchy Midas monuments Mother Goddess mountain myth natural Naumann Note objects offerings origins parallel particularly Pergamon period Pessinous Phrygian Mother piece practice presence priests prominent reference relief religious represent representations rites ritual rock role Roman Rome sanctuary seated seems sexual shrine side similar society sources specific standing statuettes status story suggests symbol temple texts tradition votive women worship
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Bibliographic information
| Title | In Search of God the Mother: The Cult of Anatolian Cybele |
| Author | Lynn E. Roller |
| Publisher | University of California Press, 1999 |
| ISBN | 0520919688, 9780520919686 |
| Length | 400 pages |
| Subjects | › Religion / Antiquities & Archaeology Social Science / Gender Studies |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |