Rhea

Rhea (Gr: Ῥέα) was a Titaness of Marriage, earth, fertility, generation, motherhood, comfort, ease and the wife of Kronos. Her name means "flow" and "ease" and since her husband is Kronos she, is also associated, with the eternal flow of time and the Rhea also was in charge of how things flow the in kingdoms. Her roman name is Cybele or Ops.

Myth

Early History

Rhea was born to Gaia and Ouranos. She, along with her titan siblings, lived in a cave when they were young. Gaia offered a sickle made of flint to them to kill Ouranos. All but Kronos cowered in fear. When Kronos defeated their father, he took Rhea as a wife.

Titanomachy

Rhea had six children. Kronos ate five because Gaea said that his son would overtake him. Rhea hid baby Zeus in a cave in Crete to be raised by nymphs. When he grew old enough, he gave Rhea a mixture of mustard, wine, and a herb that would make Kronus throw up her children. He did so, and the war was started. After ten years, Zeus ended it by slicing Kronos into millions of pieces and threw him to Tartarus. Rhea went with him, because he was her husband.

Gigantomachy

Rhea took part in the Gigantomachy defeating the Gigantes. The precise amount of involvement is unknown though she does appear on the Pergamon Altar riding a lion armed with a bow and arrow.

Children

Immortal

• Hestia (With Kronus)
• Poseidon (With Kronus)
• Demeter (With Kronus)
• Hera (With Kronus)
• Hades (With Kronus)
• Zeus (With Kronus)

Siblings

• Argês (Brother)
• Briareos (Brother)
• Brontês (Brother)
• Gyes (Brother)
• Hyperion (Brother)
• Iapetos (Brother)
• Koios (Brother)
• Kottos (Brother)
• Krios (Brother)
• Kronos (Brother)
• Mnemosyne (Sister)
• Okeanos(Brother)
• Phoibe (Sister)
• Steropês (Brother)
• Tethys (Sister)
• Theia (Sister)
• Themis (Sister)

Gallery

Rhea on her lion

Rhea on her throne with her lion at her side.

Rhea holding Zeus

Rhea sitting on a throne

Rhea

Rhea presenting Cronus the stone wrapped in cloth.

Rhea statue

The great Rhea

Cronus Devouring His Children by Pietro Muttoni: Rhea is shown next to him

Rhea in a lion drawn chariot

Sacred To Rhea

The lion is sacred to Rhea as well as her daughter, Hera. Rhea is often depicted sitting on a throne with a lion on either side. Rhea's chariot is also pulled by lions. Occasionally she is shown riding one

Rhea was often depicted wearing a crown especially when the statue was created with her on a throne.

Symbol of Rhea

Gigantomachy

Rhea riding a lion armed with a bow and arrow

Trivia

Rhea was also the name of an Italian Priestess who was the mother of Aventinus by Heracles

Other Names

• Ops