Sibylla

Sibylla is the Latin form of Sibyl, referring to a female prophet or oracle in ancient Greek and Roman religion. In classical tradition, sibyls were seers who delivered prophetic utterances, often associated with sacred sites such as the Delphic and Cumaean oracles. The term has been adopted in various languages as a feminine given name.

The Sibylline Oracles are a notable literary tradition linked to the sibyls. These are a collection of prophetic writings attributed to different sibyls, compiled in the late Republic and early Empire and consulted by Roman authorities during crises. The material spans Greek and Latin texts and reflects the blending of myth, religion, and political concerns of the ancient Mediterranean world.

In art and literature, Sibyls frequently appear as prophetic figures. The Cumaean Sibyl, for example, plays a central role in Virgil’s Aeneid. In Renaissance and early modern art, Sibyls are depicted in sculpture and painting, including on Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling, where several sibyls are presented alongside biblical prophets.

Modern usage of the term includes Sibylla as a given name in various European cultures. Notable bearers include Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, queen consort of Sweden and mother of King Carl XVI Gustaf.