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THE GALLI: BREAKING ROMAN GENDER NORMS

The Galli were priests in the cult of the goddess Cybele. They may have been devoted specifically to her consort Attis, who had castrated himself in a fit of divine frenzy. On initiation to the cult the Galli also castrated themselves, and afterwards dressed exclusively in women’s clothing. They therefore occupied an ambiguous space in Roman notions of gender that many modern transgender and nonbinary people have identified with.

Altars to Cybele and figures of Attis have been found on Hadrian’s Wall at both Chesters Roman Fort and Corbridge, which means it is possible that the Galli worshipped in Britain. Here we consider their role in Roman society and literature and investigate their presence in Roman Britain.

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/lgbtq-history/the-galli/