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Gaia The Living

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GAIA mother nature was the Protogenos of earth, one of the primal elements who first emerged at the dawn of creation, along with air, sea and sky.

Peter Paul Rubens - The Union of Earth and Water

Location: Earth
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Latest Activity: Sep 20

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Ophelia and He Will Not Come

Gaia was the Protogenos of earth, one of the primal elements who first emerged at the dawn of creation, along with air, sea and sky. She was the great mother of all: the heavenly gods were descended from her union with Ouranos, the sea-gods from her union with Pontos, the Gigantes from her mating with Tartaros and mortal creatures were sprung or born from her earthy flesh.

As Gaia was the source from which arose the vapours producing divine inspiration, she herself also was regarded as an oracular divinity, and it is well known that the oracle of Delphi was believed to have at first been in her possession, and at Olympia, too, she had an oracle in early times. That Ge belonged to the theoi chthinioi, requires no explanation, and hence she is frequently mentioned where they are invoked. The surnames and epithets given to Ge have more or less reference to her character as the all-producing and all-nourishing mother (mater omniparens et alma), and hence Servius classes her together with the divinities presiding over marriage. Her worship appears to have been universal among the Greeks, and she had temples or altars at Athens, Sparta, Delphi, Olympia, Bura, Tegea, Phlyus, and other places.

In myth Gaia appears as the prime opponent of the heavenly gods. First she rebelled against her husband Ouranos who had imprisoned her sons in her womb. Then later, when her son Kronos defied her by imprisoning these same sons, she assisted Zeus in his overthrow of the Titan. Finally she came into conflict with Zeus, angered with him for the binding of her Titan-sons in the pit of Tartaros. In her opposition she first produced the tribe of Gigantes and later the monster Typhoeus to dethrone him, but both failed in both attempts. In the ancient Greek cosmology earth was conceived as a flat disk encirced by the river Okeanos, and topped above by the solid dome of heaven and below by the great pit of Tartaros. She herself supported the sea and moutains upon her breast.

Gaia was depicted as a buxom, matronly woman, half risen from the earth in Greek vase painting. She was portrayed as inseperable from her native element. In mosaic art, Gaia appears as a full-figured, reclining woman, often clothed in green, and sometimes accompanied by grain spirits —the Karpoi.

Discussion Forum

Valley of the Rocks - A unique Natural Treasure

Started by Rosmarie Heusser Aug 18. 0 Replies 2 Likes

Payote (Lophophora Williamsii)

Started by Rosmarie Heusser. Last reply by Eva Libre Aug 11. 2 Replies 2 Likes

A Global Water Prayer

Started by Rosmarie Heusser. Last reply by bridget orman May 26. 2 Replies 1 Like

We Learn It Too Late - 103 Year Old Doctor Dr. Gladys McGarey on Life's Secrets

Started by bridget orman. Last reply by Carmen Elsa Irarragorri-Wyland Mar 14. 2 Replies 3 Likes

Speaking to the Water

Started by Rosmarie Heusser. Last reply by Rosmarie Heusser Dec 26, 2023. 3 Replies 3 Likes

WHY OUR FORESTS ARE IMPORTANT

Started by bridget orman. Last reply by Carmen Elsa Irarragorri-Wyland Mar 14, 2023. 1 Reply 0 Likes

A couple of pretty, fixed bicycle-views along the road

Started by Rosmarie Heusser. Last reply by Rosmarie Heusser May 26, 2022. 2 Replies 2 Likes

Wonderful mansions in the bird world

Started by Luna Arjuna. Last reply by Rosmarie Heusser May 12, 2022. 3 Replies 3 Likes

Big Bertha

Started by Eva Libre. Last reply by bridget orman Apr 25, 2022. 3 Replies 1 Like

Daffodil

Started by Eva Libre. Last reply by Carmen Elsa Irarragorri-Wyland Apr 3, 2022. 1 Reply 3 Likes

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Comment by Eva Libre on September 20, 2024 at 10:52am: Beautiful, unique..

Comment by Rosmarie Heusser on September 19, 2024 at 8:30pm: One of the most beautiful places on the planet, Neptune's Grotto is a stalactite cave near the city of Alghero on the island of Sardinia, Italy. The cave was discovered by local fishermen in the 18th century and has since become a popular tourist attraction. (National Geographic)

Comment by Richard L on August 14, 2024 at 3:39am: Hello! Thank you for creating this group.

Comment by Rosmarie Heusser on August 13, 2024 at 7:17pm: In a glass box, a small pine tree reveals the intricate network of white, finely branched mycorrhizal threads, known as "mycelium," attached to its roots. These mycorrhizal fungi establish symbiotic relationships with plants, aiding in the absorption of water and nutrients from the soil while receiving sugars and other essential compounds in return.

This remarkable underground network not only supports the health and growth of plants but also highlights the essential connections within ecosystems, demonstrating the interdependence of living organisms.

Comment by Rosmarie Heusser on August 13, 2024 at 7:15pm: ∼ Mushroom wonder world!∼

Comment by Carmen Elsa Irarragorri-Wyland on July 30, 2024 at 11:45pm: Nature is incredible!

Comment by Carmen Elsa Irarragorri-Wyland on July 30, 2024 at 11:44pm

Comment by Carmen Elsa Irarragorri-Wyland on July 30, 2024 at 11:44pm: Gorgeous images, all of them!

Comment by Rosmarie Heusser on July 27, 2024 at 8:03pm: Aogashima Island in Japan

Aogashima is a volcanic island in the Izu archipelago in the Philippine Sea, about 222 miles south of Tokyo, Japan. It's the southernmost and most isolated inhabited island in the archipelago, and is largely untouched by tourism. Aogashima is a destination for nature lovers, explorers, and outdoor enthusiasts, and is known as a stargazing paradise.

Comment by Rosmarie Heusser on July 24, 2024 at 8:18pm: The world’s biggest flower, Rafflesia arnoldii, West Sumatra, Indonesia.

Indeed the largest flower but also the smelliest! And, to the human nose, not in a good way: its gigantic petals emit a putrid scent like rotting flesh to attract pollinators and prey.

Brad Wilson | flickr