Gaia

Gaia (Gaea, Ge; Earth) Greek The personification of the Earth Mother in Greek mythology; known to the Romans as Tellus. She was born out of Chaos at the beginning of time and in turn bore Uranus, the starlit sky. Gaia was the mother of the seas, the mountains and valleys, and all the other natural features of the Earth. Once the Earth formed, Gaia mated with her son Uranus and produced the Titans, the first race on Earth. Then came the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires (Hundred-Handed Ones). Uranus was horrified by his monstrous offspring and banished them all to the Underworld. At first, Gaia mourned her children but then she became angry with Uranus. She fashioned a sharp sickle and gave it to Cronus, her youngest and bravest Titan son, bidding him to attack Uranus. Cronus mutilated his father's body and cast its parts into the ocean. From the blood that dropped upon the Earth sprang the Furies, the Gigantes (Giants), and the ash Nymphs (the Meliae). According to the Greek poet Hesiod and others, the primitive Greeks worshiped the Earth, which they pictured as a bountiful mother. She was the supreme deity not only of humans but of gods. Later, when the Olympian Gods were established, people still held Gaia in reverence. She presided over marriages and was honored as a prophetess. They offered her gifts of fruits and grains at her many shrines. Gaia was represented as a gigantic, full-breasted woman.