|
|
Rome history | Sleeping | Contact Us |
Etruscans
Ancient
Rome Medieval
Rome Renaissance
Baroque
Modern
Rome
.
Gaia was one of the more ancient deities of the Greek (Indo-European) pantheon. Her Roman equivalent was Terra Mater or Tellus, mother earth. She was a titan, ie one of the primal beings which preceded the deities of the pantheon, she represented the earth and all bounty. As such we can consider her as an ancient Fertility goddess.
The writer Hesiod tells us she was born of the primeval Chaos she in turn gave birth by parthenogenesis (ie without mating), to Uranus, the skies, her equal with whom she lay every night and gave birth to the oceans and many other titans, giants and beings which lived the earth. Her children includ Titan, Oceanus, Iapetus and Cronus (or Cronos), known to the Romans as Saturn: Time. Cronos was the youngest and also the most avid for power.
To the Romans she was also known as Terra Mater or Tellus: Earth and was frequently intermixed with the goddess of harvests and grain: Ceres, from whence we get the word Cereals.
The last of her offspring was jealous Cronos (Roman Saturn, also of Indo European origin) who ruled over time. Uranus, displeased at some of the offspring, decided to hide them. Gaia was greatly angered and so fashioned a flint sickle which her son Saturn used to castrate Uranus. Uranus’s genitals fell in the sea and generated Aphrodite (Venus the goddess of love). Saturn, master of time, hence took over rule of the heavens until he himself was cast into the underworld by his own son Jupiter (greek Zeus)
.|Back to the top | email us | about Mariamilani | Index of all Rome history pages | Apartments in Rome |
Ancient Roman Gods | ancient roman religion | The Gods of Rome and Politics | Christianity in Ancient Rome |
Ancient Roman Gods | List of Roman Gods | roman mythology | goddess (picture) | Goddess Clothing | greek and roman gods |
roman gods: asclepius | Hercules Mythology | temple of hercules | Roman God Janus | god jupiter | mars | roman god Mars |
roman goddesses (about roman goddesses in general): Goddess Aurora (sun rise) | roman goddess bellona (war) | Goddess Diana | goddess of love | Roman Goddess Venus (pictures) | Aphrodite Greek Goddess of Love (picture) | ancient fertility goddess | Athena Goddess | gaia goddess of earth | Minerva | moon goddess | Roman Goddess Juno | The Goddess Vesta |
Roman history | Roman Army | Ancient Roman Weapons | Rome Total War | Roman Emperors, Caesars and Leaders | caligula | augustus | Julius Caesar | Cleopatra | Emperor Nero |
Roman Empire | Economy of Ancient Rome | Roman Coins | Roman Art |Roman Architecture | Roads and Building | Hadrians wall |
Roman Government & Law | Social Structure and Class | Romans | Slavery | Senate |
Ancient Roman Religion | Pantheon | Roman Gods | Goddesses | god Jupiter | mars |Goddess Venus | hercules | Rome Vestal Virgins | Roman Catholic Church | Christian Persecution in the Roman Empire |
Roman Games, Sport and Leisure | Gladiators | Colosseum | Circus Maximus and Chariot Races | Roman Baths | Prostitution and Orgies in Ancient Rome|
Many aspects of Ancient Roman Life | Shopping | roman numerals | toga party |
About Rome Geography and City | Map of Ancient Rome | Maps |Pictures of Ancient Rome| Index of Ancient Rome | free screen savers | Ancient Pompeii |
Please email us if you feel a correction is required to the Rome information provided. Please read the disclaimer
"gaia goddess of earth" was written by Giovanni Milani-Santarpia for www.mariamilani.com - Rome apartments