Topic: Phrygia

The conversation shifts to the ancient cult of the mother goddess Cybele and her consort Attis. Twyman details the historical rituals where priests, known as Galli, would castrate themselves in a religious frenzy during the Hilaria festival in late March. This mythology of death and resurrection is presented as a precursor to similar themes found in later religious traditions.

The ancient cult of Cybele, a mother goddess imported from Phrygia to Rome, involved intense rituals including the self-castration of priests in honor of her son-consort, Attis. Mythology describes Cybele inducing madness in Attis, leading to his mutilation and death after he attempted to marry another. These rites were historically performed during a festival at the end of March, marking the transition of the seasons and the resurrection of the deity.