Rhea was the Titan Goddess of the Fertility of the earth and women, generation and motherhood. The Titaness daughter of Ouranós (the Sky) and Gaia (the Earth) in Greek mythology. She was the Queen of the Titans and mother of the gods.
Etymology[]
Rhea supposedly means "earth", relating to her role as a fertility and mother goddess.
Family[]
Rhea is a daughter of Uranus and Gaia, and is one of the Twelve Titans. She married her brother Cronus, and bore him six children, Zeus, Hera, Hades, Hestia, Poseidon, and Demeter.
In Mythology[]
Cronos, Rhea's Titan brother and husband, castrated their father. Afterwards he and Rhea took the throne as King and Queen. This time period was known as the Golden Age.
Birth of Zeus[]
Cronos had gained five children from Rhea; Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon that were all swallowed by Cronos because did not want to be overthrown. Rhea, who was desperate, went to Gaia, who told her to hide her last child, Zeus, and give Cronos a rock to swallow. After the War of the Gods, in which Cronos was overthrown by his children. She then withdrew to the mountainside and travels in a chariot driven by lionesses.
Birth of other gods and relation to childbirth[]
She later appeared in the myths when Zagreus was born. Hera sent the titans to tear him to pieces, which they did. Rhea sewed him back together and gave him life. She was also present at the birth of Apollo. She was a goddess who eased childbirth. She also healed Dionysus' mad frenzy and raised him.
As a mother goddess[]
Rhea was often seen as a mother goddess, and was associated with other mother goddesses, mainly the goddess Cybele. They often look similar in Greek art. She is sometimes known as Rhea-Cybele, a mix of the two goddesses.
Gallery[]
In Greek art, Rhea was often depicted handing a rock to her husband, Cronus.
References[]
Preceded by: Gaia |
Queen of the Greek Gods (Contested with (Eurynome) Mythic |
Succeeded by Hera |
Titans | |
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Parents | Ouranós • Gaîa |
Elder Titans | Coeus • Crius • Cronus • Hyperion • Iapetus • Oceanus |
Elder Titanesses | Dione • Mnemosyne • Phoebe • Theia • Rhea • Themis • Tethys |
Coeonides | Asteria • Leto |
Crionides | Astraeus • Pallas • Perses |
Hyperionides | Eos • Hḗlios • Selene |
Iapetonides | Atlas • Epimetheus • Menoetius • Prometheus |
Oceanides | Potamoi • Rhode • Styx |
Others | Anemoi • Astra Planeta • Kratos • Eurynome • Hecate • Lelantos • Melisseus • Metis • Nike • Ophion |
Topics | Overthrowing of Ouranós • Titanomachy |