Gaea
（
Γαῖα). The Greek goddess of the earth. According to
Hesiod she came into being after Chaos, and brought forth of herself the Sky (
Οὐρανός), the mountains, and the Sea (
Πόντος). By Uranus she was mother of the Titans, Cyclopes, and Hecatoncheires.
From the blood of her mutilated husband sprang the Erinyes, Giants, and Melian nymphs; to
Pontus she bore Nereus, Thaumas, Phorcys, Ceto, and Eurybia. Other terrible beings, such as
the giants Typhon, Antaeus, and Tityus, were her offspring, as also the
autochthones or aborigines, such as Erechtheus and Cecrops. In Homer she is invoked
with Zeus, the Sun, Heaven, and Hell as a witness to oaths, and was worshipped with the
sacrifice of a black lamb; but she was especially honoured as the mother of all, who nourishes
her creatures and pours rich blessings upon them. In Athens, in particular, she was worshipped
as
κουροτρόφος, or the nourisher of children, and at the same
time as the goddess of death, who summons all her creatures back to her and hides them in her
bosom. She was honoured also as the primeval prophetess, especially in Delphi, the oracle of
which was at first in her possession as the power who sent forth the vapours which inspired
the seer. The corresponding Roman goddess was
Tellus
(q.v.).
