"Apollo and Cumaean Sibyl" (see related A) Giovanni Domenico Cerrini (1609-1681) Gemaldegalerie, Berlin, Germany

This Sibyl was the most popular prophetess among the Romans. She arouse in the Greek ancient colony that evolved into today's Naples. In Greece the popular Sybils were from Dodona (Epirus), and the Sybil or oracle of Delphi. Another famous and popular Sybil in the East was from Erythrea in today's Turkey. The Cumean Sybil was linked with Apollo who offered for her love, immortality. The other Sybils mentioned were linked with Zeus, Apollo. The Erythrian Sybil is said to have announced the birth of Jesus Christ. Her representations in statues and iconography spread from Ukraine, Russia as far as England. Michelangelo represented the Sybils on the ceiling of the Sixteen Chapel and elsewhere. The Sybils spoke in sybilant or hissing manner (similar to a whistling sound)