Temple of the Great Mother of the Gods

temple, Olympia, Greece

Also known as: Metroum

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June 29, 2026

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The Great Mother of the Gods, also known as Cybele, was an ancient deity originating in Phrygia, Asia Minor. Her worship spread to Greece, where she was identified with Rhea, and later to Rome in 204 BCE. She was revered as a universal mother, particularly associated with wild nature and fertility, and her worship often involved ecstatic rites and self-mutilation by her priests.1

In Olympia, Greece, a small Doric temple from the 4th century BCE was dedicated to the Great Mother of the Gods. This temple, known as the Metroum, was located below the treasuries. By Roman times, the cult no longer existed, and the temple was repurposed to display statues of Roman emperors.2

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Olympia
The remains of Olympia
The Metroum, or Temple of the Great Mother of the Gods, was a small Doric temple of the 4th century bce just below the treasuries. Because the cult no longer existed in Roman times, the temple became used for the display of statues of Roman emperors.
Read More
The Metroum, or Temple of the Great Mother of the Gods, was a small Doric temple of the 4th century bce just below the treasuries. Because the cult no longer existed in Roman times, the temple became used for the display of statues of Roman emperors.
Read More