Historiae Romanorum
Cybele
The goddess was the center of a mystery cult, which had spread out from its beginnings in Asia Minor. She is called 'Magna Mater' by the Romans
Cybele was born a hermaphrodite. To make her more
acceptable, Cybele's mother chopped off her penis, which landed in a river.
From this union sprung Attis. Cybele soon fell in love with this young
man. Attis, however, wished to marry another. Cybele became jealous,
and she caused him to go mad and castrate himself. Attis then died from
the loss of blood. Cybele repented of her sin, however, and brought Attis
back from the dead. The two then became lovers.
The priests of Cybele, called Galli, were self-inflicted eunuchs who practiced self-mutilation to show their devotion to the goddess.
When the Romans brought this cult into their city in 205 BC, they were shocked by the actions of these Galli. They quickly passed laws that no Roman could become a Galli, and all ceremonies must be overseen by a Roman magistrate.