MOTHER GODDESSES

[Other] Female deities who in nearly every mythology, since pre-historic times, take a distinct position. From themselves (the virgin-mother) or with one or more partners she engendered the race of gods and is as such the 'mother of gods'. She usually represents or personifies the earth and is an earth and fertility goddess, mother of humans, plants, and animals. She is the Great Mother (Magna Mater) of all that is present in nature and from whose womb all creatures come forth and return to. As such she has many other functions besides, such as the patroness of birth and death, and a goddess of love and of war. Her partner is usually the sky-god, who personifies sun and rain (the father god). Examples are mother goddesses are Gaia, Demeter, Cybele, Isis, Tellus, Kali, and Cihuacoatl.