Images Patera of Parabiago. Silver incised with gold, IV century A.D. Found in Parabiago, Italy Relief of priest sacrificing to Cybele. Terracotta. From Isola Sacra Cemetery, III century AD. Ostia Museum, Italy

In Greek mythology, Cybele, the mother of the gods, was in love with Attis, a shepherd. When Attis betrayed her with a shepherdess, Cybele was driven mad by jealousy. When he was asleep, she either evirated him or, according to a different version, drove him mad and he evirated himself. At this point she realized what she had done and, repentant, asked and obtained from Zeus to bring him back to life. The cult of the goddess Cybele was thus dedicated to the idea of rebirth and life after death. It was very diffused in the IV century pagan world, at the same time with the pagan cult of Mitra, but also with the Christian religion.