Gaia Melaina

deity earth Greek single tradition · 1

Gaia Melaina, meaning 'black earth' in Greek, is an epithet or manifestation of the earth deity. The term reflects the Proto-Indo-European concept of the 'dark earth' as both underworld and earth's surface. This formulation appears in Greek religious contexts as part of a broader Indo-European tradition of personifying the fertile, dark soil.

When

First attested
800 BCE
Attested period
-800 – 2020
Historical notes
Greek reflex of Proto-Indo-European 'dark earth' formula, attested in ancient Greek religious contexts.

Relationships

co occurs with
Syra Zemlya

Expand to full subgraph →

Sources

wikipedia (1)

Source passages

“Other reflexes can be found in Greek Gaia Melaina (γαîα μέλαινα; 'black earth'), or in Old Irish domun donn ('brown earth').”

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