Greek Goddesses: Gaia, Rhea, Demeter, & Persephone

Gaia is ( /ˈɡeɪ.ə/ or /ˈɡaɪ.ə/; from Ancient Greek Γαῖα, a poetical form of Gē Γῆ, "land" or "earth") is a Greek Goddess who is the Goddess or personification of Earth in ancient Greek religion, and one of the Greek primordial deities. She is speculated to be the pre-Indo-European Great Mother, as well, who was venerated in Neolithic times. Beliefs range from the belief that Gaia is the Earth, that she is the spiritual embodiment of the earth, or the Goddess of the Earth. She is also called Gaea, or Ge. She is the great mother of all: the heavenly gods, the Titans and the Giants were born from her union with Uranus (the sky), while the sea-gods were born from her union with Pontus (the sea).

Greek Titan Goddess Gaia

Greek Titan Goddess Gaia

Greek Titan Goddess Gaia

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Rhea (/ˈriːə/; Ancient Greek: Ῥέα, Greek pronunciation: [r̥é.a͜a]) is a Greek Titaness who is often called "the mother of the gods."  She was strongly associated with Gaia and Cybele, who have similar functions.  The second largest moon of the planet Saturn is named for Rhea.  Along with Cronus, Rhea had the following children in order: Hestia, Hades, Demeter, Poseidon, Hera, and Zeus.  Her symbol is a pair of lions.  She is closely associated with Cybele.

Greek Titan Goddess Rhea

Greek Titan Goddess Rhea

Greek Titan Goddess Rhea

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Demeter (/diˈmiːtər/; Attic Δημήτηρ Dēmētēr. Doric Δαμάτηρ Dāmātēr) is a Greek Goddess of the harvest, the sanctity of marriage, the sacred law, and the cycle of life and death.  She is the mother of Persephone (Zeus is the father), who was kidnapped and taken to the Underworld.  She mourned Persephone's kidnapping and during Persephone's time in the Underworld the world becomes barren and winter begins.  Once Persephone returns, springtime returns.  It is possible that at one time Demeter was Mother Earth.  She is the daughter of Cronus and Rhea.  Some believe that Demeter, along with Persephone and Hecate, make up a Triple Goddess.  She, along with Persephone, Aphrodite, and Hecate, were called the "Mistress of the House."

Greek Goddess Demeter

Greek Goddess Demeter

Greek Goddess Demeter

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Persephone (pronunciation: /pərˈsɛfəniː/, per-seh-fə-nee; Greek: Περσεφόνη), also called Kore (/ˈkɔəriː/; "the maiden") is a Greek Goddess who is an all-prevading Goddess of nature. She is a daughter of Zeus and the harvest Goddess Demeter, and is Queen of the Underworld. In some myths, Persephone is abducted to the Underworld and raped. In all of the versions, the virgin Persephone was abducted to the underworld by Hades. Her mother, Demeter, searches for her endlessly, completely preoccupied with her loss and her grief. The seasons halted; living things ceased their growth, then began to die. Faced with the extinction of all life on earth, Zeus sent his messenger Hermes to the underworld to bring Persephone back. Hades agreed to release her if she had eaten nothing while in his realm; but Persephone had eaten a small number of pomegranate seeds, four or six, depending on the myth. This bound her to Hades and the underworld for certain months of every year. This myth gives a reason for the seasons; when Persephone is home with Demeter, it is spring and summer. During fall and winter, she goes back to Hades in the Underworld, and nature dies while Persephone is trapped in the Underworld and Demeter mourns.

Greek Goddess Persephone

Greek Goddess Persephone

Greek Goddess Persephone