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The Earth Goddess (Gaia, Gaea, Ge) was the protogenos (primeval divinity) of earth, one of the primal elements who first emerged at the dawn of creation, along with air, sea and sky. She was the great “Mother of All”. The heavenly gods were descended from her union with Ouranos (the sky), the sea gods from her union with Pontos (the sea), the Gigantes from her mating with Tartaros (the hell-pit). Several mortal creatures were sprung or born from her earthy flesh.

Gaea is the name given her by the people of ancient Greece who worshipped her as the giver of dreams and the nourisher of plants and young children. The Romans called her Terra, Tellus, or earth mother. She was the eldest of all beings and the invulnerable, eternal goddess who was brought rich blessings to both the Upper- and the Underworld. Gaea has been known throughout human history as the patron goddess of all living beings on Earth.  She is the embodiment of the spirit of life, growth, harvest and renewal. Gaea is no longer worshipped or thought to be real in the monotheistic cultures of the present day.  However, whether people believe her to be real or not, when people refer to Mother Nature or Mother Earth, they are speaking about Gaea.

As the mother of all the gods, Gaea has many legends surrounding her. Among the most interesting are the ones concerning the birth of Zeus, whose later worship supplanted Gaea.  Apparently, her husband Cronus would swallow Gaea’s children since he had been told that one of his offspring would usurp him. Becoming tired of this, she protected Zeus by replacing him in the swaddling clothes with a stone. After Cronus swallowed the stone, Zeus was taken to Crete. Although, Gaea had very little interaction with humans, she was particularly praised and worshipped by mankind and sacred oaths were made in her name, as she also possessed the precious gift of prophecy. Her legends revolve around the gods that she gave birth to. Gaea was associated heavily with the fertility goddess, Ceres. A temple was built approximately 268 BC on the forum Pacis. This is where her celebrations were held and pregnant cattle were sacrificed to her. The main celebration (Sementivae) lasted 2 days commencing on January 24.

In myth, Gaea appears as the prime opponent of the heavenly gods. She rebelled against her husband Ouranos (Sky) who imprisoned her sons in her womb. When her son Kronos defied her by imprisoning these same sons, she assisted Zeus in overthrowing the Titan. Finally she came into conflict with Zeus for the binding of her Titan-sons in the pit of Tartaros. In her opposition she first produced the tribe of Gigantes and later the monster Typhoeus in an attempt to dethrone Zeus. Both failed in their attempts.

Family History:

Gaea was born of Chaos, along with Tartarus (the lowest part of the earth, below Hades), and Eros. Gaea gave birth to the sea, also called Pontus, Ourea, the mountains, Uranus (also called heaven), the Titans (6 male and 6 female), the Gigantes, the Erinyes (the furies), and the Cyclops giving her the name “Mother of All”. It is said that Uranus later on became Gaeta’s mate covering her with his starry coat on all sides. The couple created twelve Titans, three Cyclops and three Hecatoncheires; these were truly ugly monsters, with 50 heads and 100 arms each. They were locked up by Uranus in Tartarus because he was so disgusted by Cottus, Briareus, and Gyges. They were called the spirits of punishment. The monstrous children were the bane of human life.

Her offspring, Echidna, and Typhon were reported to be so hideous that all who saw them ran in fear. Zeus stood his ground and when Typhon lifted mount Aetna to throw at the fleeing gods, Zeus hit it with lightening bolts so hard that if fell on Typhon. Typhon is buried underneath the mountain and can be seen breathing smoke and fire from it. The Nemean lion, Cerbeus, and Sphinx were among the grandchildren of Gaea.

Cronus was not the first of Gaea husbands. Uranus came first. Cronus with the assistance of Gaea severed Uranus’ genitals, thus forever separating heaven and earth. Legend says that when his blood hit the earth, they became the Erinyes, also called the Furies, the giants and the Meiae or nymphs. Another legend has Gaea married to Pontus. From that union came the sea gods Nereus, Thaumas, and Phorcys. Phorcys was killed during the Trojan War by Ajax. She is also reputed to have offspring with Tartarus.

Depiction:

In the ancient Greek cosmology, Earth was conceived as a flat disk encircled by the river Okeanos and topped above by the solid dome of heaven and below, by the great pit of Tartaros. She herself supported the sea and mountains upon her breast.

Gaia was depicted as a buxom, matronly woman, half risen from the earth (as in the image right) in Greek vase painting. She was portrayed as inseperable from her native element. In mosaic art, Gaia appears as a full-figured, reclining woman, often clothed in green and sometimes accompanied by grain spirits, the Karpoi.

Other Information:

Gaea is known by many names: Mother Earth, Mother Nature, Jord, Nertha, Aditi, Coatique, Rangi, the Great Mother, Akka, Ala, Ammaveru, Citlacicue, Coatilique, Danu, Eithinoha, Erce, Hou-Tou, Nana, Ninhursag, Nokomis, Pachamama, Prakriti, Vaat, Yo.

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