Dictionary Of God And Godedesses

Cybele 69importance. She is best observed from the periodof the Roman occupation, at which time sheshows a classical influence but is clearly Celtic inorigin. On one bas relief found at Carrawburghher name is associated with three nymphs holdingvessels with issuing streams of water; onanother she is pictured as a water nymph on aleaf, pouring water from a vessel. Her Carrawburghsanctuary, which followed a simple,unroofed design similar to that of a smallRomano-Celtic temple, was sited beside a wellfed by a sacred spring and was associated with theRoman fort of Brocolitia. The well attests to acult involving a ritual shaft and water, into whichmore than 13,000 Roman coins had been throwndating to the reign of Gratian (AD 407), indicatingCoventina’s long-standing popularity.Incense-burners to “Coventina Augusta” havebeen discovered from the late period.In addition to money, pearls and pins werethrown into the well as votive offerings, the pinspossibly implying a role in childbirth. Models ofa dog (linked to the Greco-Roman physician Aesculapius)and a horse (a distinct fertility symbol)had also been deposited. Less significant andprobably dumped when the temple was desecratedby Christians were a skull, altars and othercarved stones. There is no evidence of connectionwith a severed head cult.Coyolxauhqui (golden bells)Astral goddess. Aztec (classical Mesoamerican)[Mexico]. A deification and incarnation (avatara)of the moon. According to tradition she is thehalf-sister of the sun god HUITZILOPOCHTLI. Thegod sprang, fully armed, from his decapitatedmother, COATLICUE, and engaged all his enemieswho, by inference, are the 400 astral gods, hishalf-brothers. He slew his sister and hurled herfrom the top of a mountain. Alternative traditionsuggests his sister was an ally whom he was unableto save, so he decapitated her and threw her headinto the sky, where she became the moon. She wasrepresented in the Great Temple at Tenochtitlan,where she was depicted in front of successiveHuitzilopochtli pyramids. She is also a hearthdeity within the group classed as the XIUHTE-CUHTLI complex.CratosGod of strength. Greek. See KRATOS.Cum HauChthonic god of death. Mayan (classicalMesoamerican) [Mexico]. One of several namesfor a death god listed in the codices.CundaGoddess. Buddhist [eastern Bengal and Tibet].An emanation of Vajrasattva or Vairocana. Afemale BODHISATTVA or buddha-designate. Alsoseen separately as a deification of literature, oneof a group of twelve DHARANIS. She may standupon a man. Color: white or green. Very largevariety of attributes. Also Aryacunda.CuninaMinor goddess of infants. Roman. Responsiblefor guarding the cradle.CupidSee AMOR.CybeleMother goddess. Romanized name.See also KYBELE.