Rhea
Rhea was the Titan goddess of motherhood, who gave birth to the Olympian gods. Her domain encompassed not just childbirth, but the fierce protectiveness and unwavering love of a mother figure. She was the one who defied the will of her husband, Cronus, to save her children and ensure the rise of the Olympian pantheon.
Parents: Uranus and Gaia
Symbols: Lion, crown, silver fir and cornucopia
Siblings: Coeus, Crius, Cronus, Cyclops, Furies, Giants, Hecatoncheires, Hyperion, Iapetus, Oceanus, Meliae, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Theia and Themis
Consort: Cronus
Children: Chiron, Demeter, Hades, Hera, Hestia, Poseidon and Zeus
Roman equivalent: Cybele
A prophecy loomed over their family – one of her children would overthrow Cronus. Consumed by fear, Cronus resorted to the unthinkable, swallowing each of their children whole as they were born. Aware of the prophecy and determined to protect her children, she devised a daring plan. When Zeus, her youngest, was born, Rhea knew she couldn’t risk Cronus’ insatiable hunger. She spirited Zeus away to a hidden cave in Crete, guarded by the shield-clashing Curetes. In his place, she presented Cronus with a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes, a clever deception that fooled the monstrous Titan.
Digital Maps of the Ancient World 