Cybele-Attis cult

The Cybele-Attis cult was a Greco-Roman religion centered on the worship of the Great Mother of the Gods, known as Cybele, and her consort Attis. Originating in Phrygia, Asia Minor, the cult spread throughout the Roman Empire, where Attis was eventually associated with the sun.12

The worship involved annual spring festivals and mysteries. The central myth tells of Attis, a beautiful youth, who castrated himself in a frenzy induced by Agdistis (a form of Cybele) and died. This act symbolized the death and rebirth of vegetation, with Attis representing the fruits of the earth that perish in winter and return in spring.21

The cult's rites were known for their ecstatic and orgiastic nature, with priests, called Galli, often castrating themselves in devotion. These practices, while fully embraced in Asia, were initially too intense for Roman sensibilities but gained prominence over time. Attis was typically depicted as a youth wearing a Phrygian cap and trousers.312