学文网A primeval1) component of all early religions was the cult2) of the mother goddess, who represented earth, fertility and all aspects of creation. Here, we take a look at some of the more interesting mama deities3).
所有的早期宗教都有一个基本组成部分，那就是对象征大地、生育和各方面创造力的母亲神的崇拜。在这里，我们为你盘点一下那些比较有趣的母亲神。
Isis
As one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt, Isis held several roles. Not only was she a principal deity in the rites4) connected with the dead, but she was also a magical healer, and as a mother figure and arbiter5) of fertility rites6) she was a role model for women. Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and was married to Osiris7), King of Egypt, whom she restored as a mummy after his brother Seth chopped him into pieces.
Durga
Forget Mother Earth: the Hindu goddess Durga ("the inaccessible") is considered the mother of the universe. It's only right that such a powerful deity have at least eight arms, ride a lion, and be able to defeat demons8) that other gods cannot. It's also fitting that the beautiful protective-warrior goddess has a festival in her honor each year: Durga Puja is celebrated, primarily in eastern India, during the harvest season.
杜伽
大地之母不算什么，印度教的女神杜伽(意思是“触不可及的”)被尊为宇宙之母。如此神通广大的女神当然至少要有八条手臂，可驭狮而行，而且还能击败其他诸神无法战胜的妖魔。同样，这位美丽的女战士和守护女神也理应每年都有一个自己专属的节日：杜伽女神节。每年的收获季节，尤其是在印度的东部地区，人们都会庆祝这个节日。
Gaia
While the ancient Greek poet Hesiod9) didn't use the words "Captain Planet10)" to describe Gaia, if anyone deserves the title, it's her. Hesiod writes in his Theogony that she showed up after, but is not the child of, Chaos. "Broad-bosomed Earth (Gaia), sure-standing place for all/The Gods who live on snowy Olympus' peak" creates the sky, the mountains, and the sea. That sky (Uranus), "an equal to herself", is not just her offspring; he also becomes her husband.
Coatlicue
Coatlicue is multifaceted11). As Coatlicue she is the Aztec earth goddess, creator and destroyer of earth, mother of gods and mortals, the one who gave birth to the moon and stars. But she is also called Teteoinnan, the "mother of the gods", Toci, "our grandmother", Cihuacoatl, the fearsome goddess of childbirth and patron12) of those women who die in birth, Tonanantzin, "our mother", and simply, "Snake Woman". Additionally she is also known as the goddess of fire and fertility, of life, death and rebirth, and mother of the southern stars. Fitting for a goddess of such vast meanings and responsibilities, her appearance is ... complex. As snakes symbolize fertility, her face is said to have been of two fanged13) serpents, her skirt of interwoven snakes. Her breasts are depicted as flabby14), for she nourished many. And, as the earth consumes all who die, her necklace is made of human hearts, hands and a skull. Yeah, not exactly the portrait of a loving mother.
Ninsun
Ninsun means Lady Wild Cow, which implies bovine15) form. But the Sumerian deity was actually called many things: "the flawless cow", "the wild cow of the enclosure" and "the mother of good offspring that loves the offspring". It's said that she was the divine power behind the qualities that herdsmen hoped for in their own cows. But she wasn't just in cow-like form. She was also represented in human form and could actually give birth to humans, including (legend has it) to Gilgamesh16), one of the great mythical Mesopotamian17) kings.
Danu
Danu is said to have literally suckled18) the gods. In Irish mythology, she is mother of the earth, the gods, fertility, wisdom, wind and of all the Celtic people. The story of Danu lingers19) with her offspring, Tuatha De Danann, or people of the goddess Danu, who in Irish folklore are known as the fairy people who are skilled in magic. When the Tuatha De Danaan reached Ireland's shores to wage war against the Firbolgs20), Danu provided them sustenance21), life and law.
伊希斯
作为古埃及最重要的神之一，伊希斯身兼数职。她不仅是与亡者相关的仪式中的主神，还拥有治愈疾病的神奇力量，同时，作为母亲的化身和丰饶仪式中的仲裁者，她也是女性的典范。伊希斯是大地之神盖布和天空女神努特的女儿，后嫁给了埃及国王俄塞里斯为妻。在俄塞里斯被其弟塞特碎尸后，伊希斯将他的残骸复原为一具木乃伊。
该亚
虽然古希腊诗人赫西奥德并未用“地球超人”这样的字眼来形容女神该亚，但如果有谁能配得上这样的称谓，那无疑是她。赫西奥德在《神谱》中写道，该亚诞生于混沌之后，但并不是混沌的女儿。这个“胸膛宽广的大地(该亚)、白雪皑皑的奥林匹斯山山顶的众神/脚下所站之地”创造了天空、群山和海洋。那“堪与她匹敌的”天空之神(乌拉诺斯)不仅是她的孩子，后来还成了她的丈夫。
科亚特利库埃
科亚特利库埃具有多方面的特征。被称为科亚特利库埃时，她是阿兹特克人的大地女神，是大地的创造者与毁灭者、众神和人类的母亲，月亮和星星也是她的孩子。但她还被称作Teteoinnan (意为“众神之母”)、Toci (意为“老祖母”)、Cihuacoatl (代表令人生畏的分娩女神和死于分娩的女性的保护者)、Tonanantzin (意为“我们的母亲”)，或简称“蛇女”。此外，她还是掌管火、生育、生命、死亡及重生的女神，是南方天空群星之母。与这样一位意蕴多重、身兼数职的女神相对应，她的形象也……十分复杂。由于蛇是生育的象征，所以据说她的脸由两条露出毒牙的蛇组成，她的裙子也是由一些蛇交织而成。因为哺育了众多子女，她的被描绘成松弛下垂的样子。并且，由于大地终将吞噬所有逝者，因而她的项链是由人的心脏、手和一个骷髅头串成的 。是啊，这实在算不上是一副慈母的形象。
宁松
Ninsun的意思是“野母牛夫人”，暗示着她具有牛的外形特征。不过，这位苏美尔人的女神实际上拥有众多名号：“无瑕的母牛”“围栏里的野母牛”和“养育优秀后代的慈母”。据说，牧人们希望自己的母牛所具有的优良品质皆由这位女神掌管。不过，她不只以与母牛相似的形象出现，还能以人的形象现身，并能生育人类，(据传说)其子嗣包括传说中美索不达米亚的一位伟大的国王――吉尔伽美什。
达努
据传说，达努女神用***汁哺育了众神。在爱尔兰神话中，她是大地、众神、生育、智慧、风以及全体凯尔特人的母亲。达努的故事一直在她的后代达努神族中流传。在爱尔兰民间传说中，达努神族的人是擅长魔法的仙人。当达努神族来到爱尔兰海岸与袋人交战时，达努为他们提供食物、生命力并制定法律。