Statue of the Ephesian Artemis

Cultural encounters in the ancient world often brought about religious syncretism: the merging of gods and cults. In the city of Ephesus in Asia Minor, the virginal Greek goddess of childbirth and wildlife Artemis was identified with Cybele, the great mother goddess worshiped in the East. Their character traits were blended into one Ephesian goddess of birth and midwives, nature and fertility, wildlife and the hunt. Artemis' dress is adorned with winged goddesses, lions, bees, and mythological figures. Wound around her chest are 43 bull testicles symbolizing fertility.