The Tragic Love Story of Cybele and Attis

The Tragic Love Story of Cybele and Attis Cybele and Attis is the story of the Phrygian great mother goddess Cybeles tragic love for the mortal Attis. It is also a story of self-mutilation and regeneration. When Cybele- one of Zeus would-be lovers- rejected him, Zeus wouldnt take no for an answer. While his victim slept, the great philanderer spilled his seed on her. ( In due course, Cybele gave birth to Agdistis, a hermaphroditic demon so strong and wild that the other gods feared him. In their terror, they cut off his male sexual organ. From its blood sprang an almond tree. This castration/birth connection is also seen in one version of the story of the birth of Aphrodite. Attis Is Born to Nana The river Sangarius had a daughter named Nana who ate the fruit of this almond tree. When, as a result of her snack, Nana delivered a boy child 9 months later, Nana exposed the child. This was an ancient method of dealing with unwanted children that usually led to death, but did not in the case of such important figures as Romulus and Remus, Paris, and Oedipus. Infant death was not to be his fate, however. Instead, reared by the proverbial area shepherds, the boy soon became healthy and handsome- so handsome his grandmother Cybele fell in love with him. The First Violets The boy, whose name was Attis, was unaware of the love Cybele bore him. In time, Attis saw the king of Pessinus beautiful daughter, fell in love, and wished to marry her. The goddess Cybele became insanely jealous and drove Attis mad as revenge. Running crazy through the mountains, Attis stopped at the foot of a pine tree. There Attis castrated and killed himself. From Attis blood sprang the first violets. The tree took care of Attis spirit. Attis flesh would have decayed had not Zeus stepped in to assist Cybele in his resurrection. The Ritual of Attis Since then, a yearly ritual has been performed to purify the body of the dead Attis. The priests- referred to as Galli or Galilee- are emasculated in emulation of Attis. A pine tree is chopped down, covered with violets and carried to the shrine of Cybele on Mt. Dindymus. There Attis is mourned for 3 days. Then, when Cybele brings him back to life, there is a wild and joyful celebration.