#rhea goddess

[sarafangirlart]

Rhea doodle

[diana-thyme]

Greek Gods 101: Rhea

Rhea is a goddess of female fertility, generation, and motherhood. Excluding the universal offerings, some common offerings include:

Eggs

Photo Albums

Milk

Depictions of Lions

Stones Wrapped in Swaddles or Cloth

Depictions of Cornucopias

Fir Leaves/Branches/Bark/Etc.

Seeds

Plants

Family Heirlooms

For devotional acts, some activities that can be done for her include:

Veiling

Helping People Out

Comforting Others

Babysitting

Baking or Cooking

Surprising and Helping Mothers (and Other Parents)

Planting Something

She is not celebrated in any Athenian holidays.

[royal-wren]

Anyway, on a not-so-serious note, I swear and curse in devotion to Hermes. I yell/scream, and make noise in devotion to Hermes, Artemis, Dionysos, and Rhea

[dandelionwineram]

Rhea and Zeus

The ancient greek says: "giver of zeus".

[allmythologies]

greek mythology: rhea

rhea is the mother goddess. when she bore zeus, she hid him away in crete, and instead gave kronus a rock to swallow when he swallowed the rest of her children after hearing one of his children was destined to overthrow him. her sacred animal is a lion.

[athenepromachos]

Bit more detail about these gorgeous murals. They were painted by Karl Friedrich Schinkel in c.1827 and were originally in the Palais des Prinzen Karl and Ordenspalais in Berlin which Schinkel remodelled in the C19th. During the Nazi regime, the building was used for the Ministry of Propaganda. Sadly though, the building was destroyed in 1945 leaving us with only a few photographs. The murals depict the Greek Gods and are really gorgeous 😍 🏛😍

Rare shot of the Interior

Rhea gives Cronus a swaddled stone to eat instead of baby Zeus ☠️

Zeus with his Eagle and Hera with her Peacock 🦅🦚

Hades and Persephone with a fabulous looking Kerberos 🐕💀

The divine twins Artemis and Apollo 🏹🏹

Dionysus and a dancing Maenad 🍇🍇

[fayesdiary]

reverse unpopular opinion for....aw heck, go ahead with Rhea for this one as well

This might as well be a part 2 to the previous Rhea ask so :D

I find Rhea to be so compelling for several reasons, one of the biggest being the inherent contradiction that she is very much capable of caring, loving and trusting others, sometimes with some insane gestures when you realize their meaning behind them (ie. Saving Jeralt's life by giving him her blood thus risking outing herself because of it, letting Catherine keep Thunderbrand despite the fact it's the one Relic she could safely recover- implicitly trusting her with one of her family's remains without any obligation to do so, risk angering a noble house to give Cyril a better life and treating him like her son in all but name)... And yet she cannot, for the life of her, bring herself to be honest with them.

Something fascinating I noticed about Rhea is that she ironically seems to prefer people who are blunt with her, because look at the people she's closest to - Seteth spends all of Part 1 openly questioning her, Flayn is constantly on the verge of accidentally outing herself, Cyril is so direct and honest he sometimes accidentally comes off as rude (Shamir too even if she's not as close to Rhea) and Catherine wears her heart on her sleeve.

Heck, all of them are either not that religious or outright non-believers, which ironically I believe helps reassure Rhea they love her because of who she is as a person and not because she's the archbishop, especially given how much she implies to find the position incredibly alienating.

And isn't that just so fascinating? That she is more than capable than loving others and caring for them risking her own personal safety, she appreciates people being honest with her.... But cannot, will not be entirely honest with them in turn.

Because make no mistake, that right there is Rhea's true fatal flaw: her compulsive need to keep everything a secret.

From the big but understandable stuff that would get her and her family scrapped for parts if it became public to downright pointless shit to hide like not liking hot drinks, and it's the one trait that screws her over the most, between being the reason Jeralt left (since she didn't tell him ANYTHING about what happened with Byleth so he assumed the worst and fled) and the thing preventing her from making connections as deep as she actually wants (like even just telling her loved ones how much they mean to her), as well as getting the support she actually needs. And because she feels she has to bear everything on her shoulders, she crumbles under the weight because no matter how hard she tries, she will never be good enough.

In that sense the role of archbishop is a sort of mask to her. It's definitely a part of her, but also something she has sort of burrowed into like a safety net preventing her from being true to herself. Because that'd mean making herself vulnerable, in more ways than one. To say nothing about putting her surviving family and remnants of her dead kin to jeopardy.

If she were to open up she'd be... More lively, I think. Definitely sillier if Heroes is any indication, and arguably more willing to take a direct approach in helping people. And definitely more loved and happier.

And perhaps, one day she'd realize she doesn't need to bring her mom back to fix Fódlan. She's not doing it alone anymore, after all.

[deathlessathanasia]

I've talked about this before, but I feel the need to do it again.

It is not that I am a big fan of incest or anything (and they are gods! Why even care about the incest anyway?), but it is actually important that Hera is also the sister and not just the wife of Zeus. It is actually important that she is called “the most glorious child to issue from crafty Kronos and mother Rhea” (Homeric Hymn 5), “eldest/most revered daughter of Kronos” and “august goddess, daughter of great Kronos” (the Iliad), “the supreme celestial goddess, daughter of Kronos” (Pindar Pythian 2). It is not for nothing that Hera emphasises her birth and not just her marriage when talking to Zeus: “And yet my labor must not be rendered worthless; for I too am a god, and my parentage is from the same place as yours, and devious Cronus bore me to be his most revered/eldest (πρεσβυτάτην) daughter. For both these reasons, my birth and also because I am called your wife, and you are lord among all the immortals.” (Iliad IV) or “I—who claim to be the best/noblest (ἀρίστη) of the goddesses, both by birth and because I am called your wife, and you are lord of all the immortals.” (Iliad XVIII).

“It is not possible, nor is it seemly to refuse your request; for you sleep in the arms of almighty Zeus.”, Aphrodite tells Hera in Iliad XIV, but a few lines earlier she also says: “Hera, eldest goddess, daughter of mighty Cronus, speak what you will; my heart compels me to accomplish it, if I am able to accomplish it, and if it can be accomplished.”

To change her parentage because eww, incest! is to diminish her status, to accentuate the already existing power imbalance between her and Zeus even more, and to make her authority depend primarily if not solely on her marriage.

And of course this doesn't just apply to Hera, because family connections are meaningful for all the gods. Demeter is so closely associated with her mother Rhea that they can even be identified with each other. It does say something that Gaia, Rhea and Demeter are some of the only four or so goddesses in Hesiod's Theogony who are given the title “mother”. Persephone was not just some irrelevant flower goddess until Hades made her important and respected, she was the daughter of the king of the gods. To take away their connections (and only theirs; nobody ever seems to change Hades' parentage) just because you are uncomfy with Persephone being married to her uncle is just... weird, not particularly interesting, and certainly not inherently less problematic.

[artbyanca]

Rhea, the mother of the gods.

[sarafangirlart]

kinda curious what do you think about rhea

I think she’s a pretty interesting character, I’m really fascinated by her relationship with Hera since there aren’t really any sources directly stating what their relationship is like but we do get enough to speculate.

When Zeus tried to seduce/trick Hera as a cuckoo, she says she can’t sleep with him bc of their mother (to which he says that he’ll marry her) now what did she mean by this? Did she mention their mother bc she’s shy about having sex? Bc she’s scared that Zeus won’t respect her consent so she brings up their mother? Or is it bc Rhea doesn’t approve of them together? There is a lot arguments for and against all of these and it’s fun to speculate.

There’s also the fact that Hera mentions Tethys a lot, constantly praising her foster mother while never really talking about Rhea much. There is also the fact that some sources state that Rhea raised Dionysus and that she was there to comfort Leto while giving birth. Which I’m 100% sure Hera is upset about, does she feel that her mother prefers Zeus over her?

Complex mother-daughter relationships are my shit.

I kinda don’t like when Rhea is portrayed as only trying to save Zeus, I feel like she would try to rescue all of her children ever since Hestia was eaten. After all, there are several stories about Hera and Poseidon not getting eaten.

[dimiclaudeblaigan]

Another reason why the whole "forced marriages" concept (that Rhea haters ate up like pie) is bullshit.

Speaking for Faerghus, since this seems to be an issue players point the finger at Faerghus for, it's just... not true? This NPC does understand there are political implications to his marriage, but he wasn't forced into it and neither was his wife. They married for love.

The only known case of an arranged marriage prospect within Faerghus' known cast is Ingrid, and that's something Ingrid has taken on for herself as well. She knows her lands struggle with crops and that her people go hungry. She's choosing to deal with a non-romantic marriage for her people.

But what about Glenn, you ask? There are two aspects to that:

The marriage was arranged when Ingrid was born, but it's worth noting the marriage was arranged between Gunnar and a childhood friend's son. She wasn't just being married off to just anyone. It was both a childhood friend (who Gunnar clearly had deep trust in)'s son, but also a family member of the royal family's right hand family. But what about the Houses paralogue, you ask? Gunnar wasn't aware of the man's crimes, but as soon as he found out he rejected the proposal. Gunnar cares about his daughter's happiness and wellbeing. The only reason they're searching for a marriage candidate is because Galatea lands desperately need the financial support.

Ingrid is the only case we know of where she's being "married off" (her endings rebuke this entirely anyway because she does end up marrying for love if paired with someone). Nobody else in Faerghus had a marriage forced or politically forced on them (and frankly I still fail to understand how the Church is supposedly at fault for concept of this being the case period anyway). Dimitri, the literal prince and at the time of birth immediate heir to the throne, was never forced to marry. Felix has never been pushed to marry. Sylvain has never been pushed to marry (despite how important it is that they continue that bloodline). Annette, a female, has never been pushed to marry.

In other words, the major political players have never put their kids into arranged marriage with a single exception of necessity for one family (Galatea), and in Rodrigue's case with Glenn, it was done with a childhood friend's lands' welfare in mind. Gunnar could have married Ingrid to anyone at any point, but the most important aspect of it is that when it was arranged without her say so (i.e. at her birth), it was done with the son of a man who Gunnar trusted implicitly.

After Glenn died, Ingrid was plenty old enough to have a say so in who she might be married to. Presumably the issue wasn't pushed on her for a while after Glenn died for emotional reasons, but once they tried again, Ingrid had a say in things. Her father sent her letters specifically for her input. No, she doesn't want to marry for political reasons, but she understands how much her lands need it. Still though, her father won't force her to marry some scumbag. If she tells him she won't marry someone, he accepts that.

In other words, the only argument that can be used for "forced marriages" falls flat on its face. It's not a regular practice in Faerghus. None of the heirs to specific territories are being married against their will. The only instance we know about isn't so extreme that Gunnar is just going for it and picking the best dowry without considering his daughter's happiness and health.

The one time it was decided before she was old enough to give her input, Gunnar didn't need to "consider" marriage prospects and be unsure who to pick, because it was planned between two old friends who trusted each other and presumably felt that their child would be safe with the other family in question.

My biggest problem with people saying this claim is supported is that for the most part, people just take Claude's words in GW at pure face value and assume it's absolute, definite truth when he gives nor has any evidence to back it up (mainly because he blames it on the Church, which still doesn't make sense because such things are out the Church's jurisdiction. No amount of "seeing what the world is like without Rhea" is going to change Faerghus' politics, so even if his claims were true, Claude would have to go talk to every single individual territory within Faerghus to realize the truth if he's that dead set on his view of this, as each territory does its own thing politically).

He brings it up like it's a fact in Faerghus, which as I've said before, he has literally no knowledge whatsoever about Faerghus, and it shows. He doesn't even know extremely basic things, such as the previous king literally dying in the middle of making friends with a foreign land. He knows that Lambert died in Duscur during the Tragedy, and that's... basically the extent of his knowledge and understanding about it. For some reason though in Hopes, he thinks he understands Faerghus as well as he understands Almyra.

It's also annoying because in Fodlan games, a character can just say something - literally anything at all - and it's eaten up immediately and taken at pure face value with no thoughts actually put into questioning its validity. And before anyone says "but Dimitri didn't argue this in Zaharas!" yeah, I'm aware, and I feel that was a huge reason why that chapter, trying to be the "we fight as allies this once" chapter, was a total flop, aside from other things (particularly in the SB/GW department with Dimitri and magically wanting to "talk things over" with someone who had just murdered one of his dearest friends mere hours ago tops in SB, or in GW where politics would demand more from him).

The games have a problem with trying to introduce false concepts through characters who don't know better (i.e. introducing incorrect perspectives that we're meant to understand are just perspectives and not the truth nor fact) but then not refuting those claims, despite the game itself as the story progresses outright denying those things, whether outright or passively (in the latter's case, again, other important political figures having no talks of marriage on the table at all).

In the screenshots, the NPC is aware that politics have to get involved with his marriage, but he wasn't forced to marry and neither was she. Not only does he mention it, but he wants people to know they married for love. He's basically saying he doesn't want people to misinterpret their reasons for marriage (wanting land, wealth, etc).

In Ingrid's case, it was started with that goal in mind, but it started out in safe hands. After that she always had a say in who she might marry, and ultimately didn't marry for political reasons. The one person who was possibly going to marry for political reasons in Faerghus and not out of love ends up not even doing that.

Honestly, in Claude's case, I feel like he was just written with no purpose in mind except to rock the boat unnecessarily, because everything he claims in regard to Faerghus is purely speculation on his part. He knows absolutely nothing about Faerghus (in both games, but his ignorance in Houses isn't malicious, whereas you could argue in Hopes he's attempting to overthrow what he believes are their systems when even if they were, it would still be none of his business) but talks like he's lived there or spoken to its people who make the decisions he claims are happening.

Also, the concept of Dimitri being forced to do this that and the other thing are just... not true? Dimitri is happy to be able to help others and make reforms for his lands. He likes that he's able to have the power to make good change and help people. He knows that you need a certain degree of power to be able to push things in a better direction and to have a voice. By having the most important voice, he can make other voices known that otherwise would not be. When people have no choice but to listen to the king, he can demand that other voices are heard.

Even in his A support with Shez, he believes his happiest moment will be when he dies after dedicating his life to "a peaceful kingdom full of joyous citizens". I get the whole "but he isn't living for himself!" side of things, but this part of this post is specifically about how Dimitri is supposedly "forced" into doing things because he's king; but plain and simple, he wants to be king because by having the highest power in his land, he can make positive change happen

"This bad thing is happening in the Kingdom!" Well now he can change that. He wants to change things in his land for the better, and he understands that his position is a necessity for that. That's why he's so upset when he's "rendered powerless by age" in Houses, i.e. can't ascend the throne yet. He wanted to make change and couldn't. He wanted to do right for the Kingdom, but he couldn't yet.

Basically what I'm saying is that people keep using Claude's Hopes rhetoric as "fact", but literally none of it is. It's all based on the most severe amount of ignorance in both games and him for some reason believing that he knows jack shit about Faerghus. That includes the marriage "issue", which while I'd say it may exist in Adrestia (ex. Bernadetta being planned to marry Ferdinand), does not exist in Faerghus as any sort of "issue".

I don't recall if it's really even present in Leicester? So either... Claude just pulled that argument out of his absolute ass, or he's seeing an issue in Leicester and for some reason assuming his country's politics are every country's politics, which is, again, total ignorance (and he makes no effort to ever found out if any of that is true).

[unxpctedlygreat]

Sothis's praise lines for Rhea, Seteth and Flayn!

[bestmothertournament]

[apollosgiftofprophecy]

Have you heard of the Kouretes?

https://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/Kouretes.html

I have! They're the ones who guarded Zeus when he was a baby. For a split second I confused them with the Corybantes, the children of Apollo & Thalia lol My brain skittered to a halt and went 'wait. timeline REALLY doesn't add up' XD

Also didn't help that both are associated with Rhea lmao

[monstrumpuella]

Magical lady?

Don't you mean Powerful Goddess

[katiemakena]

You are everything I need.