In ancient Greece, the mother figure who was given special honor was primarily the goddess Rhea , known as the "Mother of the Gods." She was the wife and sister of Cronus and mother to several Olympian gods including Zeus, Demeter, and Hera. Rhea represented nature and fertility and was celebrated with an annual spring festival dedicated to her
. Before Rhea, the worship of motherhood and fertility was associated with Gaia (Mother Earth) , who was considered the ancestral mother of all life and personified nature itself. Gaia was the original "Great Mother," giving birth to the sky (Uranus), the sea (Pontus), and the Titans. Over time, the cult and honors passed from Gaia to her daughter Rhea
. Rhea was often called Meter Theon ("Mother of the Gods") and had several temples dedicated to her across ancient Greece, including places like Attika, Arkadia, Corinth, and Athens. The center of her worship was on Crete, where Mount Ida was considered the birthplace of Zeus
. The reverence for Rhea and motherhood in general was expressed through festivals in spring, involving offerings such as flowers and fruits, prayers, and communal celebrations. This tradition is considered the origin of the modern Mother's Day concept
. In summary, the mother honored in ancient Greece was chiefly Rhea , the Mother of the Gods, who symbolized fertility, nature, and motherhood, following the earlier veneration of Gaia, the primal Earth Mother
