Abstract:

People who lived in pre-historic times needed cults of the mother goddess due to their belief systems. These mother goddess cults brought abundance and prolificacy to believers and took the responsibility of protecting their cities at the same time. Even if these mother goddess cult statues and names changed from one culture to another, there were similarities about meanings attributed by humans. For example, Hittite and Phrygian believed in Kibele-Kubaba in the Anatolia during and after the Neolithic period of time. The cult of the mother goddess symbolizes the fertility of the soil and birth, but is also worshipped by those who believe in it, taking on the duty of protecting the city. Belief in the mother goddess, which is the cult of fertility in Anatolia, has been associated with the soil. Believers in the mother goddess made sculptures for her and tried to show respect for her by making temples. Under the influence of Greek culture, the Mother Goddess returned to Artemis in Ephesus and Aphrodite in Aphrodisias; symbol of fertility and has not lost its relationship with fertility. The statues made in the name of these goddesses are described as fertility, fertility and being the protector of all things. In this context, the sample of the research is The Temple of Artemis, believed to be in Ephesus, and Aphrodite, believed to be in the ancient city of Aphrodisias, are examined, and their connection to the cult of the Early Motherhood Period Mother Goddess (Mythological Mother) is examined.

Keywords: