relation between the Lion and the goddess Cybele in Roman art till the third century A.D

Document Type : Original Article

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Abstract

This study deals with the relation between the Lion and the goddess Cybele in Roman art till the third century A.D, following an archaeological, artistic and analytical approach.The study depends upon  foreign and Arabic sources and references to collect the scientific material.
The study reached the following results:
-Cybele is rarely depicted without the company of a lion or more, to the extent that if her figure is missing from the artwork, her presence is nonetheless, implied by the depiction of her lions.
-The lions are mostly depicted with Cybele in one of the following images:
*Her chariot is drawn by two lions or more.
*One lion stands on each side of her throne, orone lion on one of the two sides.
*One of the lions carries her on its back.
.*One lion is lying in her lap.
Those arethe images in which the lionswere depicted with Cybele.
 Concerning the meaning and symbolism of each image:
-if the lions are depicted in a big size or close to the normal size, in comparison with the size of Cybele's figure. And they are standing, crouching or recumbent on each  or one side of her throne. or they carry her on their backs, or draw her chariot. That's a symbolism to the dominance of Cybele over wildlife.
-if the lion is depicted in a small size, in comparison with Cybele's figure, sitting in her lap:
-  With the presence of an indication or more for death, then the lion might be an incarnation for death,and his position in Cybele's lap refers to the triumph of death over life, in such a case the artwork has been made for a funerary purpose. As it's not strange for the lion to be depicted in a funerary context.

-  Whether with or without presence of one indication or more for death which referring to that the artwork has been made for a funerary purpose,we can say that the presence of lion in that position is nothing but a confirmation for the amity relation between Cybele and her lions

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