This bronze statuette, dating from the late 2nd or early 3rd century A.D., portrays Cybele, the Phrygian Mother of the Gods, seated on a cart drawn by two lions. Originating from the Roman, Imperial Period, it represents an amalgamation of Hellenistic and Roman interpretations of the goddess and exemplifies the prevailing cultural and religious influences in Anatolia.
Detailed examination of the statuette displays Cybele positioned against city walls, signifying her symbolic links with fortified towns. She is depicted while seated and holding a tambourine in her right hand, an attribute typically associated with Cybele. In her left hand, she holds a key, suggesting a connection with knotted cloths which in Roman tradition symbolized Hestia, the goddess of the hearth.
The portrayed placement of Cybele on a cart references the mythical procession of Cybele, with lions as her mode of transportation. The lions are depicted with muscular form and dynamic expressions, their expert craftsmanship augmenting the overall realism of the statuette. Attention to detail is also evidenced in the intricately rendered wheels and structure of the cart.
The statuette, cast in bronze, has a durable yet refined appearance promoting a high level of detail, observed through the precision in Cybele's dress, the lions' manes, the cart's ornamentation, and the city walls. A green patina applied to the surface augments the aesthetic while also preserving the artifact.
