From Pre-classic Greece to early Christian times she represented Gaia, the deified earth, and inherited many attributes of the ancient Sumerian goddess Inanna. In this depiction, Cybele's queenship as Magna Mater of Rome is symbolized by her throne and lions. She holds the frame drum; her bowl of prophecy and staring gaze proclaim her power. The blazing torch symbolizes her bull-consort Attis in resurrection. Saint Peter's Cathedral stands upon the site of Cybele's temple in Rome. The Sybils at Cumae were her priestess-oracles.

[Berlin Museum, c. 100 BCE]

White marble-colored Gypsumstone.

The Mother Goddess archetype, throne-seated and giving birth to all creation, dates to at least 6500 BCE. The Greeks venerated her as Gaia, "the Deep-Breasted One, Oldest of the Old," and dedicated the Erechtheion, a temple adjoining the Parthenon at Athens, to this regal image. Gaia creates all things terrestrial, so we have added our holy planet Earth (removable) for her to cradle to her bosom in the New Millenium. Her sphinx-like human-headed lions symbolize Gaia's role as Alpha and Omega.

[Greek, 7th cent. BCE]

Green bronze color Gypsumstone.

Cybele and Hecate were leading deities of mystery cults and considered powerful in divination especially for those at a cross roads or starting a journey or giving birth.

Amazon women worshipped Artemis, Cybele and Hecate as Maiden Mother and Crone, and Thracian Bendis was closely allied to Cybele and Hecate. Diodorus says that the Amazons offered sacrifice to Cybele, Hecate and Tauric Artemis and served as votaries.

The cult of Cybele idolized an earth-goddess of fertility in human, beast, and field. Her worship was accompanied by the sound of crashing drums and cymbals, the music of the pipe, and the voices of frenzied votaries. Her inspiration came as a form of holy madness, which endowed the worshiper with a sense of mystic ecstasy and supernatural strength.