GAIA & DAPHNE

GAIA & DAPHNE

Gaia was the ancient Mother Earth of the Greeks, "the Deep-Breasted One". Born from Chaos, she existed long before time and created her consort as well as their children, one of whom was Rhea. Rhea created Python who coiled around the omphalos (navel) at Delphi, guarding the sacred divinatory Castalian spring and sharing oracular knowledge with Gaia's priestesses there, the Pythia. When one of her priestesses, Daphne, was being pursued by Apollo, Gaia changed her into a laurel tree so she could escape from him. This myth, as well as that of Apollo slaying Python, tells the story of the patriarchal takeover of the Oracle at Delphi which was once sacred to Gaia but, in later years, was claimed by Apollo. The laurel wreath was once considered a magical charm against evil but, after patriarchy, was used as a victory symbol to crown warriors and artists and was also worn by Apollo. The spirit figure emerging from the spirit earth in the upper right corner is Gaia, after her depiction on the Pergamon Altar, Greek, 165-156 BCE. Her gesture is part of the spirit energy changing Daphne into the laurel tree. Gaia's snake earring is after a Greek bracelet from Avola, 330-300 BCE.