Tellus

, a divinity, the same as the earth, the most ancient of all the gods after Chaos. She was mother by Cœlus of Ocean us, Hyper i on, Ceus, Rhea, Japetus, Them is, Saturn, Phœbe, Tethys, . Tellus is the same as the divinity who is honoured under the several names of Cybele, Rhea, Vesta, Ceres, Tithea, Bona Dea, Proser pine, . She was generally represented in the character of Tellus, as a woman with many breasts, distended with milk, to expre the fecundity of the earth. She also appeared crowned with turrets, holding a sceptre in one hand and a key in the other; while at her feet was lying a tame lion without chains, as if to intimate that every part of the earth can be made fruitful by means of cultivation. Hesiod , Theogony , li. 130 .— Virgil , Æneid , bk. 7 , li. 137 .— Apollo dor us , bk. 1 , ch. 1 .――A poor man, whom Solon called happier than Crœsus the rich and ambitious king of Lydia. Tellus had the happine to see a strong and healthy family of children, and at last to fall in the defence of his country. Hero dot us , bk. 1 , ch. 30 .――An Italian who is said to have had commerce with his mares, and to have had a daughter called Hippone, who became the godde of horses.