Meet the Goddess Ops, a Roman icon of abundance, fertility and prosperity. Discover her secrets and personal relationships.
¿Who was Ops?
Ops Roman goddess of the earth; she was a source of fertility. In general, she was a goddess of wealth and abundance, as her name implies. She was the wife and sister of Saturn. She was the Roman version of the Greek goddess Rhea and their roles, symbols and myths are virtually identical.
Origins
Like most Roman mythological figures, Ops was appropriated from Greek mythology. She is virtually a direct copy of Rhea.
Legends and Stories
The myth of Ops is closely related to that of Rhea and her husband Cronus. Here is the Roman interpretation of the main myth.
Baby Jupiter
Ops’ husband, Saturn, was the protector and sower. He reigned supreme in the universe, but it was prophesied that one of his children would topple him from the throne. Saturn decided to do everything in his power to prevent this by swallowing every child Ops gave birth to.
Ops wanted to protect at least one child, so when his sixth child, Jupiter, was born, Ops hid the baby and instead wrapped a rock with clothes wrapped in swaddling clothes. Saturn thought the rock was his new son and quickly swallowed him as if he had his other children. The baby was safe and was raised away to protect it.
But when Jupiter grew up, he decided it was time to overthrow his father and take control. He also wanted to save his other siblings. So he secured the cup holder position on Saturn. Eventually he added a potion to the cup that makes his father vomit. When he did, his brothers and sisters were freed from his stomach.
Then a war broke out between Saturn and his children. After years of battles, Jupiter finally won the battle. When Jupiter ascended the throne, Saturn fled the area and settled in Rome, where he established the Golden Age. The Golden Age was a time of perfect harmony and peace, which lasted as long as he reigned.
Family
Ops was married to Saturn and together they had many children, all of whom were inspired by similar gods of Greek mythology. Their children were Ceres, Pluto, Neptune, Jupiter, Vesta and Juno.
Neptune
Neptune was the god of the sea. This goddess was almost identical to the Greek god Poseidon. He was also considered the god of horses by his Roman worshippers, as his myth says that he invented the horse with a single blow of his trident in a competition for the city of Athens. This goddess said to have been the inventor of chariot racing. He is often depicted with dark hair and sitting on a large shell like chariot pulled by whales or seahorses.
Jupiter
Jupiter was the supreme god of the Roman pantheon. He was the god of light and sky and the protector of the state and laws. He is associated with lightning, storms and thunder. His wife was Juno, who was also his sister. He was linked to the Greek god Zeus. He would eventually become part of the triad of gods established by the inhabitants of Rome. This goddess was still considered the greatest of all the gods, but he was also linked to Juno and her daughter Minerva in power.
Pluto
Pluto was the god of the underworld and the judge of the dead. He closely resembled Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. His myth is also similar. While Hades captured Persephone and made her his wife, Pluto captured Proserpina.
Ceres
Ceres was the goddess of agriculture, grain crops, maternal relations and fertility. She is associated with the Roman goddess Demeter. Ceres was very important to Roman mythology, as she was the only god who was involved with mortals on a day-to-day basis. She was loved for her service to humanity. She taught humans how to grow, preserve and prepare corn and other foods.
Vesta
Vesta was the goddess of the hearth, domestic life and home. She was the eldest of Ops’ children, but the last to be released from her father’s stomach. Therefore, she is considered both the oldest and the youngest. She was very attractive and many men fought for her hand. However, she rejected them all and begged Jupiter to allow her to remain a virgin. He agreed and to thank him, Vesta took charge of her house. This is what allows her to identify with domestic life and tranquility.
Juno
Juno was the protector and special advisor of the state. She was married to Jupiter and together they had Mars and Vulcan. Juno was responsible for the welfare of Roman women.
Appearance
Ops’ appearance is a direct representation of what she oversees. She is usually shown as a motherly figure with long flowing hair, often in a field or meadow surrounded by flowers and greenery. In some, she is nursing a baby, showing her connection to fertility and nurturing.
Ops usually has a calm and serene look on her face. Her eyes are often closed and in almost all artistic depictions, whether day or night, the moon can be seen in the background.
Symbology
There are many themes associated with Ops, including wealth, fertility, opportunity and growth. There are also many symbols related to these themes, including seeds, bread and earth. It is known for providing mortals with opportunities to be productive every day, either with their family or with what the earth can provide.
Worship
King Titus Tatius of King Sabinus mythically instituted the Cult of Operations. She later became known as the patroness of prosperity, wealth and abundance, both nationally and personally. She was given a famous temple in the Capitol. There was once a festival held in her honor during the month of August and a day in December was typically set aside for her as well.
