Draft:Barbale

Barbale (Georgian: ბარბალე), was a sun goddess venerated in ancient Georgian mythology. She was primarily revered as the guardian deity of the beginning of female fertility and reproduction.

According to popular beliefs, Barbale determined the abundance of agricultural yields and livestock fertility. She was thought to contribute to the fertilization of cattle, poultry, and humans alike. Various holidays and rituals were dedicated to Barbale, with the main celebration coinciding with the winter solstice. Objects representing the sun were frequently utilized in these rituals and customs honoring the goddess.

The name "Barbale" itself finds linguistic parallels in Georgian words denoting circles or wheels, such as "moelvare ali," suggesting an association with cyclical celestial movements. Additionally, there is a formal and semantic similarity between "Barbale" and the Sumerian-Akkadian epithet "bibbirru," meaning "bright ray" or "brilliance," further reinforcing her solar symbolism.

Beyond her role as a fertility deity, Barbale was also worshiped as a healer capable of curing ailments like headaches, smallpox, and eye problems. However, she was believed to have the power to bring calamities, distress, and even death upon individuals, reflecting the duality often found in ancient deities.