Statuette of Seated Cybele (Left Profile)

The goddess Cybele, wearing a polos (a tall, cylindrical headdress) on her head, sits on an unadorned block-like throne. Her wavy hair is parted in the middle and long tresses fall down the front of her chest. She wears a chiton and a garment called a peplos, a piece of heavy cloth folded over at the top, pinned at the shoulders, and usually worn belted. Here, the peplos is belted at the waist. A himation is draped over her left arm and across the lower part of her body. Her feet are shod, perhaps in boots, and rest on a footstool. She holds a phiale (shallow bowl for pouring libations) in her right hand. Her left arm is raised, possibly holding a scepter. At her left side, in front of the flat side of the throne is a boy, probably a devotee, shown in profile and wearing a short tunic and chlamys (mantle). A seated lion is at her right side.

In Greek and Roman art, Cybele, the “Mother of the Gods,” is depicted with various attributes, each signifying a different role. She frequently wears a mural crown, a turret headpiece representing the walls of a city, since she was a protectoress of cities. The lion, sacred to the goddess, symbolizes her power over wild animals. Lions usually appear crouching on the right and left sides of her throne, and sometimes she is shown riding in a chariot drawn by lions. Cybele's cult was founded in the Near East, but became popular outside this area, especially in Athens, and later in Rome.