#queue the flow

   To me, Rhea is responsible for the future generations of mortals and even more so her family when it comes to her domain over generation. In the myths, she’s seen more interacting with her grandchildren and great grandchildren more than her own children after the war and I interpret that they are grown and technically don’t need her guidance as much as younger gods would.

  Could this be seen as her being a distant mother? Perhaps but she doesn’t forget about her children and do nothing for them (for example: convincing Demeter to come back to Olympus after Persephone’s abduction). When she is summoned to help, she will come and be a dutiful mother but at the same time, she can’t constantly loom over her sons and daughters and make their decisions for them, tell them what to do to or what not to do or punish them for their wrong doings. They are powerful gods in their own right and ultimately have the most power since they are the current ruling generation (since 4 of them are royalty and or still Olympians). 

  Does focusing on the younger generations and not her own children dent her relations as a mother herself? You can be a mother (and motherly figure) to those you aren’t your children: while motherhood is often directed to the concept biologically, being someone’s biological mother is not the only definition of what it means to be a mother. She’s the Mother of the Gods, a respected and esteemed matriarch who has a duty to more than just her own children. She has to mother the future generations which also ties into her roles as the titan goddess of eternal flow of time and generation.  

 It’s all connected. 

  Rhea wasn’t given her domains at random. She was originally was bestowed the titan goddess of the eternal flow of time because her husband Cronus is the titan god of time and ages (since titan spouses -and some non titan spouses as well- often share similar domains or domains that are interconnected). But given that, her domains branched off to others (ease, comfort, motherhood, female fertility, generation) that serve and continue with time. Time continues through many aspects but especially with every generation that is at its height and at its fall, making way for the youngest to take control and influence the world and others next.  

  The meanings of Rhea’s name literally explains her roles: ease and flow*. As the titan goddess of generation, ease the present generation into their place during the current time of their height of power and dominance and watch them flow on so the next generation can take over. As the titan goddess of eternal flow of time, she represents and tends to more the present and future than the past since you can’t change the past but can still influence the present to change the future. She is the grounded force that helps keep life and time continuing forward. 

  Rhea helps create life through her domain as the female fertility goddess through preparation and fertilization, she takes care of, guides and protects mothers bearing and or raising children (but also those who take on roles as mothers through other means that aren’t biological) as a motherhood goddess and her soothing and spiritually healing presence is called upon by those who pray to her for relief and peace of mind as the goddess of ease and comfort.

Rhea’s presence and influence is essential. 

   While she is mostly known for being the mother of the original Olympians that saved her son Zeus from Cronus, Rhea has a duty to look after several domains and plays an important role in many lives. I believe she was dubbed The Mother of the Gods after helping free her own children because without her saving Zeus, there would be no next generations of gods. Sure there were still the titans and the old gods but many important gods that people know and are familiar with were born after the dawning of the original six Olympians. 

Rhea is both the Mother of the Gods and the Olympians. She essentially bore an entirely new generation and all future generations after them. 

  My other roleplay blog is @renownedtitaness where I roleplay as Clymene, the titan goddess of fame and renown. I’m putting it as semi active since Rhea is my main muse but Clymene is another I rp from time to time. It’s been like almost one or two months since I’ve been active on her blog. 

     “My grandson praises your dedication to him. It certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed,” mused Rhea. Just the overwhelming aura radiating from the women before the titaness was enough for her to identify her as a maenad, Dionysus often spoke of one of his truest devotees, praising her for many sacrifices she carried out in his name. 

     Being that Rhea took great interest in Dionysus’ life and what and who he was involved with, she was undoubtedly curious about the maenad. Maenads were loyal creatures to who they served but also dangerous to those who disrespected them as well as their lord Dionysus. Since Rhea was his grandmother and mentored him in the ways of the gods and the Rites of the Orgia, one would think the followers of her grandson would possess some reverence for the Mother of the Gods?

     “I thought it was about time we meet...don’t you agree?“

Figuring out other characters who were born after the OG Olympians (especially if one or both of their parents are Olympians) will be interesting to figure out how they can fit. Perhaps they could be love child(ren) between two Olympians or have different parents altogether, or an Olympian parent with a different god. It’s definitely something that needs to be worked out if you’re interested in joining this AU and your character was born after the Olympians.

does any of that even make any sense?

If you’re interested in joining this verse, you can like or reply to this post or message me! I don’t know if duplicate characters can be possible? I dunno...we’ll see. This AU is in still in its early stages.

While Oceanus and Tethys didn’t visit Mount Olympus too often, Rhea volunteered to keep a watchful eye over their granddaughter, Iris, who was sent to work for Hera as her newest handmaiden. Given Iris’ youth, she would need guidance and someone to look out for her and Rhea was willing to do so for the sake of her beloved siblings’ granddaughter. She didn’t expect any problems with Iris as a new addition to Olympus; however, there was always the possibility of the titaness being proved wrong. 

“I hope you are adjusting well to Olympus, Iris. It may seem overwhelming at first, but you will become accustomed to living here,” Rhea offered her grandniece. “How has everyone been treating you?”

So after seeing no legit in depth reasoning as to why Cronus believed that the stone Rhea gave him was baby Zeus, I came up with my own headcanon. Now after almost 4 years, I found an actual reference in the mythos that gives a reason! You can read it here as it appears in the Dionysiaca Book 8 by Nonnus:

“Then subtle-minded Hera began to coax wily Deceit with wily words, hoping to have revenge on her husband: “Good greeting, lady of wily mind and wily snares! Not Hermes Hoaxthewits himself can outdo you with his plausible prattle-prattle! Lend me also that girdle of many colours, which Rheia once bound about her flanks when she deceived her husband! I bring no petrified shape for my Cronion, I do not trick my husband with a wily stone.“ 

BASICALLY: Rhea borrowed a girdle from Apate (the daimon of deceit, deception, guile and fraud…makes perfect sense) that is able to deceive minds. Pretty much Rhea had the power to make Cronus think the stone was baby Zeus as she wore Apate’s girdle and the titan King, in return, had no reason to be paranoid anymore that he was going to be overthrown.

So how did Rhea get this idea? I mainly follow the writing of Hesiod for the canon on this blog and Rhea did plot with Gaia about how to protect Zeus. Ouranos is also said to be apart of the plotting but given Ouranos’ hatred of his children, I don’t see him helping much especially with Rhea. Although the thought of Cronus being defeated like how Cronus defeated Ouranos may be reason enough for Ouranos to be apart of this plotting.  I figure Ouranos enjoying knowing the fall of the son that defeated is a given; like the whole “payback’s a bitch, ain’t it?” situation.

I feel like Rhea wouldn’t be too comfortable being around her father, but I also feel like she gave him a chance because deep down, she wished she had a decent relationship with Ouranos. The fact that Gaia was also there to help plot did make the situation a lot less awkward because this was during the time Rhea still trusted and greatly admired her mother. The three of them probably floated ideas around on how to make Cronus believe that Zeus wouldn’t be a threat to him and Rhea probably suggesting using a decoy Zeus for Cronus to consume. Gaia chimed in, thinking that help from another deity was needed to properly convince Cronus he eat Zeus and Ouranos named some suggestions and Gaia remembered Apate and her powerful girdle of deceit.

Whenever he had the chance to come up from the underworld, he always tried to make the most of it. Naturally, he had to visit his mother at least once in a while. What kind of son would he be otherwise? “I can imagine that being quite a time for you.” He joked, happily approaching his mother. “When a rare opportunity comes along to take a quick visit, you can’t help but to take it.” He trusted Hecate to do some minor things for him while he was gone.

“Oh you have no idea, dearest. Oh no, on second thought, when a woman becomes pregnant, it is like when a new soul enters your kingdom,” Rhea mused, realizing the comparison. Curiosity in her son’s response peaked her interest. Surely, it wasn’t often that she saw her eldest son walking amongst the living, and there was always an important reason behind his earthly visitations…right? “So are you here for business then and just visiting your mother before venturing back into the Underworld? You know, I wish you would come up more often. I’m sure you have one or two people you trust looking after things while you’re gone. All my children are within arm’s reach except you.”