Cybele is an ancient deity originating from Phrygia. The beginnings of her cult date back to 1000 BC. The cult spread from Anatolia towards Greece. The main characteristics of the depiction of the Phrygian Cybele include a long tunic, a polos, a veil over the back, and an eagle or lion. She is depicted in a standing position. She was associated with mountains. In Greece, a tambourine was added to her left hand, and she began to be depicted seated in an aedicula. The modern name of the goddess is derived from the Greek name. In 204 BC, the cult was imported into Rome and developed separately from the Greek tradition. Around the 1st century AD, the cult reached the territory of present-day Slovenia. There are not many remains, and they are mostly epigraphic. The cult is documented in Slovenia until the 3rd century AD.
|
