Terra (mythology)
Terra Mater or Tellus Mater was a goddess worshiped from ancient times in the city of Rome. She was the goddess of the earth, and the names Terra Mater and Tellus Mater both mean "Mother Earth" in Latin. (The honorific title Mater was given to many Roman goddesses.) Romans appealed to her over earthquakes; Tellus was also associated with marriage, motherhood, pregnant women, and pregnant animals. She was also responsible for the productivity of farmland, along with the grain goddess Ceres.
Some Indo-European linguists believe that the two words Terra and Tellus were originally as a formulaic phrase tersa tellus, meaning "dry land". If true, then Tellus might be the more ancient version of the name.
A festival for Tellus was held on April 15; it was called the Fordicia or Hordicidia. Pregnant cows were sacrificed. The pontifex and Vestal virgins managed this festival. The vestal virgins kept the ashes of the foetal calves until they were used for purification at Parilia.
From January 24 to 26, the Sementivae or Feriae Sementivae took place in honour of Terra or Tellus. Simultaneously in rural areas the Paganalia took place in honour of Tellus Mater and Ceres and marked the finish of winter sowing. The pontifex maximus fixed the dates. The Goddesses were asked to protect sowers and seeds.
Her Greek counterpart is Gaia, and as such, she was said to be the mother of Fama, the goddess of fame and rumor.
See also
- Tellus, a citizen of ancient Athens, reputed to have died the happiest of men.
References
External links
- Tellus Institute Environmental organisation
