Rhea · Atlas · Falsafa

in the texts

OrationsImperial · Greek

Mother goddess, invoked among deities dishonored by sexual exploitation

neither Zeus the god of birth nor Hera the goddess of marriage, nor the Fates that bring things to fulfilment, nor Artemis of childbirth, nor mother Rhea, nor the Eileithyiae who preside over human birth, nor Aphrodite, named after the natural union and intercourse of the female with the male;

oration 7 ¶

BacchaeClassical · Greek

Mother goddess associated with the Korybantes and the invention of the sacred drum used in Dionysus's rites.

But, you women who have left Tmolus, the bulwark of Lydia, my sacred band, whom I have brought from among the barbarians as assistants and companions to me, take your drums, native instruments of the city of the Phrygians, the invention of mother Rhea and myself, and going about this palace of Pentheus beat them, so that Kadmos’ city may see.

bacchae ¶

and in their excited revelry they mingled it with the sweet-voiced breath of Phrygian pipes and handed it over to mother Rhea, resounding with the sweet songs of the Bacchae;

bacchae ¶

TheogonyClassical · Greek

Titan goddess, daughter of Earth and Heaven, who bears the Olympian children of Cronos and conspires with Earth and Heaven to save the infant Zeus from being swallowed.

But Rhea was subject in love to Cronos and bore splendid children, Hestia, Demeter, and gold-shod Hera and strong Hades, pitiless in heart, who dwells under the earth, and the loud-crashing Earth-Shaker, and wise Zeus, father of gods and men, by whose thunder the wide earth is shaken.

theogony ¶

Theia and Rhea, Themis and Mnemosyne and gold-crowned Phoebe and lovely Tethys.

theogony ¶

IliadClassical · Greek

Mother of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, mentioned in Poseidon's genealogical claim of equal rank with Zeus.

We were three brothers whom Rhea bore to Kronos - Zeus, myself, and Hades who rules the world below.

book 15 ¶

Hymn 2 to DemeterClassical · Greek

Rhea is Demeter's mother and Zeus's envoy in the final reconciliation.

And all-seeing Zeus sent a messenger to them, rich-haired Rhea, to bring dark-cloaked Demeter to join the families of the gods:

hymn 2 to demeter ¶

for far-seeing Zeus the loud-thunderer calls you to join the families of the gods, and has promised to give you what rights you please among the deathless gods, and has agreed that for a third part of the circling year your daughter shall go down to darkness and gloom, but for the two parts shall be with you and the other deathless gods:

hymn 2 to demeter ¶

Hymn 5 to AphroditeClassical · Greek

Rhea is the divine mother named in Hera's genealogy.

though he is greatest of all and has the lot of highest majesty, she beguiles even his wise heart whensoever she pleases, and mates him with mortal women, unknown to Hera, his sister and his wife, the grandest far in beauty among the deathless goddesses —most glorious is she whom wily Cronos with her mother Rhea did beget:

hymn 5 to aphrodite ¶