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From the ancient goddess cults of Anatolia to the vestal virgins of Rome, religion has played a core role in shaping existing gender roles and perceptions throughout history. One particular example is that of Cybele, a great mother goddess whose cultic priests—known as Galli—sacrificed their masculinity to become devoted to her consort Attis in an ambiguous gender space. This obscure yet significant aspect of Greco-Roman religious history is viewed with admiration by today’s transgender and nonbinary communities for its unique perspective on gender acceptance and fluidity.
The mysterious cult of Cybele, whose priests known as Galli practiced self-castration in devotion to her consort Attis, has captivated many modern transgender and nonbinary people for its story of gender fluidity and intersectionality. Revisiting this segment of ancient Roman religious history helps us recognize the progress that has been made—or not made—in terms of acceptance for different expressions of gender over the centuries.
The ancients worshipped Cybele as the Mother of All, but her mysterious connection to trans individuals remains underexplored. History reveals fascinating details around her and Attis, her devoted consort, and their Galli priesthood. We take a look at how the veneration of this Goddess provides insight into traditional religious beliefs and practices in Ancient Rome regarding gender roles – which can be seen to have parallels with modern conceptions of trans identities. Through better understanding Cybele’s role, we gain further respect for transgender people as a dynamic part of history whose story is only beginning to be told today.
Who Were the Galli?
The role of Cybele, the renowned Magna Mater, in ancient Rome was significant and far reaching. During the Carthaginian Wars of the 3rd century BC, her cult arrived in Rome where a devout following soon formed around her powerful symbol; a large black rock brought from Pergamon (in modern Turkey). This symbolic representation of Cybele was offered its own temple on the Palatine Hill and remained part of Roman culture until it was Christianised. As a Mother figure to many transgender individuals throughout history, Cybele’s legacy has provided invaluable guidance and understanding for generations. Through continued worship and veneration, she stands tall as a powerful deity for trans people to this day.
The priests of Cybele, the Galli, were known for their devoted and unique way of living. After pledging to serve their beloved goddess, they performed an act of sacrifice – giving up their manhood – in order to receive her blessing. Afterwards, they adorned themselves with clothes and jewels typically associated with women of Rome. In return for young men’s corporeal sacrifice, many Roman women offered them second-hand items as a token of gratitude and appreciation. Under the watchful eye of the Archigallus, Cybele’s highest priest whose funerary monuments remain in Rome today, these faithful followers made it their mission to tell fortunes and spread her sacred message among those who sought it.
Galli in Roman Poetry
The cryptic Galli, mysterious and mythical even in the time of the Roman Republic, were a source of fascination. Emissaries of the Magna Mater Goddess, their dedication to their deity often manifested in strange processions and shrill music that marked them as different from their Roman brethren. Though they aroused curiosity, poets shed light on their unique mythology by referencing Attis, an ancestral figure whose gender could be sensed as shifting through a tale of castration and ecstatic celebration.
Under the rule of Augustus however, everything changed. The expansive realms coming under Rome’s sway floodes the city with new peoples whom threatened Rome’s sense of identity and masculinity. Thus the curious Galli suddenly became a potential threat to this new stability within the empire – albeit one that was easily quelled due to their prominent visibility following Augustus’ rebuilding of the Magna Mater temple near Rome in 3 AD. This provided easy access for any concerned citizen or ruler to ensure that no unlawfulness occurred during rituals and customs practiced by these holy gifts from above.
No one spoke more highly of them than the poet Catullus (c84-54 BC), who wrote fondly of their spiritual ancestor Attis. Through Attis’ story, Catullus opened up an entire discourse on masculinity in Roman culture – examining its shifting identities with admiration and sympathy.
Cybele as Mother of Trans People
Despite the negative attitude towards Cybele and her priests in Roman culture, modern transgender and nonbinary people find solace in her cult. Cybele’s gender-nonconforming performance and acceptance of their non-traditional gender roles offer a sense of belonging, understanding, and comfort to those who feel out of place in mainstream society.
Myths suggest that Cybele was originally intersexed or gave birth to an intersex child, Agdistis. These accounts allude to the ancient knowledge of intersexedness and represent an alternative to the arrogant notion that patriarchal institutions are above nature. By transcending gender and sex, Cybele embodies divine power and offers hope to intersex persons wronged by medical establishments. Through her cult, trans, non-binary, and intersex individuals can feel accepted for who they are regardless of binary expectations.
In conclusion, the cult of Cybele and her priests, the Galli, have played an important role in the understanding and acceptance of transgender and nonbinary people throughout history. The goddess Cybele, as the mother of the Galli, continues to be a symbol of acceptance and understanding for those who may not fit into traditional societal gender roles.
