Ava Allen - The Great Mother by Ava Allen

Nut - Egyptian Goddess

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-09 16:25:38 UTC

The Goddess of the sky and the heavens in Egyptian culture. She is often refereed to when mentioning a new day and bringing of the sun on new days. Since she is seen to be protecting her husband, she is often represented as proving guidance and the proper necessities that her husband needs in order to keep healthy and safe.

The ancient Egyptians often said that "...she protected the Earth deity Geb, her husband, from the night sky. Myths also state that the sun deity Ra traveled through her - she swallowed him at night and then gave birth to him every morning," (Rosicrucian Museum).

Cybele - Greek Goddess

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-09 16:30:43 UTC

Cybele is the mother goddess within Greek mythology, as she is deemed responsible for the birth of humans, animals, plants, and all other living beings among Earth. She is often shown within Greek mythology to be caring to injured or harmed beings, and demonstrates maternal instincts.

It is said that "...in her origin myth, she was born a hermaphrodite, and she was worshiped alongside Attis, a fertility god. Her cult became prominent in the Roman Empire and is associated with frenzied worship," (Zimmerbaum, 2023).

Nut

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-09 16:32:01 UTC

“Nut.” Explore Deities of Ancient Egypt, egyptianmuseum.org/deities-nut. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

Cybele

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-09 16:32:45 UTC

“Great Mother of the Gods.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Great-Mother-of-the-Gods. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

Demeter - Greek Mythology

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 20:56:12 UTC

Demeter is another goddess within Greek Mythology that is often identified as a nurturing individual. She is deemed to be responsible for, but "...not limited to grain." She is also responsible for "...vegetation generally and to all the fruits of the earth," (Britticana, 2025). This specific topic that she is associated with demonstrates providing nutrients to individuals of the Earth, serving a nurturing aspect that is needed in order to maintain life.

Demeter

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 20:58:39 UTC

“How Agriculture and Domestication Began.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 18 Mar. 2025, www.britannica.com/topic/agriculture/How-agriculture-and-domestication-began.

Gaia - Greek Mythology

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 21:17:20 UTC

Gaia is a goddess that is often depicted as being one with the Earth, representing all creation. Ironically, she has a very similar connection to Cybele. It is said that she has "... supported the seas and mountains upon her breast," (Theoi, 2025). This takes the stance that along with her being female, she supports the Earth with her very own body, allowing all of humanity to live securely upon their land.

Gaia

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 21:17:30 UTC

“Gaia.” GAEA (Gaia) - Greek Goddess of the Earth (Roman Terra, Tellus), www.theoi.com/Protogenos/Gaia.html. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.

Artemis - Greek Mythology

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 21:27:59 UTC

Artemis, sister to Apollo, is often depicted as a "...goddess of wild animals, the hunt, and vegetation and of chastity and childbirth," (Britticana, 2025). She is also seen being very protective over the beings she deems important. Fun fact, she also has never been documented to have been in a romantic relationship or affair with anyone!

Artemis

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 21:28:48 UTC

“Artemis.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 9 Apr. 2025, www.britannica.com/topic/Artemis-Greek-goddess.

Hera - Greek Mythology

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 21:37:22 UTC

Hera is one of the most ancient Goddesses known within Greek Mythology. She is depicted as the "... goddess of marriage, women, the sky and the stars of heaven," (Theoi, 2025). She is the wife of Zeus, and has also given birth to multiple children. This very purpose that she is assigned is what allows her to be so commonly identified with the great mother archetype, as she is a mother herself.

Hera

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 21:37:52 UTC

“Hera - Greek Goddess of Marriage, Queen of the Gods.” Theoi Greek Mythology, www.theoi.com/Olympios/Hera.html. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.

Aphrodite - Greek Mythology

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 23:08:37 UTC

Aphrodite is associated with Greek Mythology. She can be identified as the "... goddess of love and fertility and even occasionally presided over marriage," (Britticana, 2025). She is seen to have association with other gods and goddesses, mainly regarding their love life and intimate affairs. But, she represents a great mother archetype based off of her feeling of providing love to individuals who are lacking it, and especially demonstrates maternal instincts regarding fertility.

Hestia - Greek Mythology

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 23:16:34 UTC

Hestia is an Ancient Greek goddess that is associated with " ...the hearth, home, and hospitality," (Cartwright, 2019). She is seen and a gentle and calm goddess, showing the most understanding and sympathy with individuals. Due to this, she actively demonstrates an empathetic great mother archetype.

Hestia

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 23:17:27 UTC

Cartwright, Mark. “Hestia.” World History Encyclopedia, https://www.worldhistory.org#organization, 11 Dec. 2022, www.worldhistory.org/Hestia/.

Isis - Ancient Egyptian

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 23:27:47 UTC

Isis is a goddess within the Ancient Egyptian mythology. She is mainly identified with being a role model to multiple women within this culture. She is described as being a "...mourner," and with this "...she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women," (Tyldesley, 2025). These specific aspects of her address multiple categories, especially the one of her being empathetic based off of her mercy upon many individuals.

Tanit - Ancient Egyptian

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 23:37:34 UTC

Tanit is an ancient goddess within the Egyptian culture. She is representative of fertility and motherhood, as well as being an active protector of children. Nowadays, she is sculpted out as a recognizable women, yet in the past she was represented through symbols. She is described as being supportive and protective over her children, often demonstrating strong willingness to make sure individuals are well and healthy.

Tanit

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 23:38:52 UTC

“Tanit.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Tanit. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.

Tara - Hinduism/Buddhism

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 23:43:36 UTC

Tara is seen within the hinduism and buddhism religions, often being a goddess that represents "...the virtues of success in work and achievements and embodies various qualities of the feminine principles," (Aims Exhibition, 2025). She actively represents the great mother archetype by her actions such as "...giving birth to warmth, compassion and relief from unpleasant karma as experienced in the cyclic existence," (Aims Exhibition, 2025). She is said to have inserted this cycle within to the universe in order for it to continue on within humanity.

Tara

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 23:45:16 UTC

“Tara : Goddess of Enlightenment, Wisdom and Empathy.” AIMS Exhibition, aims.vmis.in/exhibition/exhibition/tara-goddess-of-enlightenmentwisdom-and-empathy-by-dr-vishi-upadhyay/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.

Eleos - Greek Mythology

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 23:51:52 UTC

Eleos is a goddess that isn't as known within the world, but she is recognized within Greek mythology for being the goddess of "... pity or mercy," (Theoi, 2025). With this, she shows mercy and compassion among individuals who are experiencing current harmful events within their life. She is associated with Athena, often being shown within her temple. This very demonstration of compassion can play a role in how she is viewed as a great mother, as it is a characteristic of the archetype.

Eleos

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-10 23:53:53 UTC

“Eleos.” ELEOS - Greek Goddess or Spirit of Mercy & Compassion (Roman Misericordia), www.theoi.com/Daimon/Eleos.html. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.

Chinnamasta - Hinduism

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-11 00:04:22 UTC

Chinnamasta is a goddess that represents "...the paradox of life and death, creation and destruction, and self-sacrifice," (Prajapati, 2024). She is an encourager of femininity, "...selflessness, courage, and spiritual awakening," (Prajapati, 2024). She has a severed head, which is used to represent that it is important to become detached from one's own ego when it is important to be helpful to others. These specific characteristics about her is what makes her adapt the great mother archetype, as she is willing to sacrifice herself at the need of one's own issue.

Chinnamasta

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-11 00:05:02 UTC

“Chinnamasta - the Goddess of Self-Sacrifice, Courage, and Transformation.” Hinduvism, 22 Dec. 2024, Adarsh Prajapati, hinduvism.com/chinnamasta-the-goddess-of-self-sacrifice/.

Nuwa - Chinese Mythology

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-11 00:13:01 UTC

Nuwa, a goddess within the Chinese mythology, represents the creation of all humankind. She is depicted "...with the body of a serpent and the head of a human woman," (Kamiya, 2025). She is described as a goddess that supports her children at every convenience, continuing to grow the Earth and individuals on it even despite the attention upon herself, which actively demonstrates the great mother archetype.

Nuwa

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-11 00:14:18 UTC

Kamiya, Anne. “Nuwa: An Overview of Etymology, Attributes, Family Tree, and Mythology.” Mythical Encyclopedia, 30 Dec. 2023, mythicalencyclopedia.com/nuwa/.

Iphigeniea - Greek Mythology

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-11 00:24:13 UTC

Iphigeniea was at first married to Achillies, where she was then deemed to be a goddess priestess. Yet, she actively was "...sacrifice(d) to the goddess Artemis," (Britticania, 2025). Her simple act of self-sacrifice is what leads her to demonstrates traits associated with the Great Mother archetype. She was able to save people from this sacrifice, demonstrating putting others before herself.

Iphigeniea

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-11 00:24:23 UTC

“Iphigeneia.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Iphigeneia. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.

Virgin Mary - Christianity

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-11 00:29:46 UTC

The Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, gave birth to Jesus at the hand of God. After Jesus spread the word of the Lord, he was then hanged upon a cross and died for humanity's sins. Her sacrifice of her son is what leads her to actively demonstrate the great mother archetype. She chose to help overall humanity even though it was at the loss of her son, which is what leads her to be identified as such a great mother.

The Fairy God Mother

avacharlotte27 — 2025-04-11 00:34:27 UTC

The fairy godmother, often seen within fairytales (most commonly known, Cinderella) can be identified as having a great mother archetype. She uses her magical powers to help Cinderella become as beautiful as she can possibly be, ensuring she achieves her goal of attending the ball. By her ensuring that Cinderella is at her full potential and looks and feels her best, she is nurturing her. This characteristic is associated with the great mother archetype, therefore categorizing her as such.