Ops
Roman goddess of abundance and the harvest, wife of Saturn, equivalent to the Greek Rhea
The Myth of Ops
Ops was one of the most ancient Italian deities, worshipped as the personification of agricultural plenty. Her name is related to the Latin word opus (work) and opes (wealth, resources), reflecting the Roman belief that abundance came from labour. As wife of Saturn, she was mother of Jupiter, Juno, Neptune, Pluto, Ceres, and Vesta — the senior generation of Roman gods. Her festival, the Opalia on 19 December, fell during the Saturnalia period, and her worshippers touched the earth while praying, since her gifts came from the soil. Her cult was closely linked to Consus, the god of stored grain. Ops was sometimes called Ops Consiva, the "sower of plenty."
Parents
None recorded
Symbols
Fun Fact
Worshippers of Ops had to touch the ground while praying to her, because her power came directly from the earth
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Ceres
⚡ godAgriculture, grain, harvest, fertility
Roman goddess of agriculture and grain, identified with the Greek Demeter
Demeter
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Demeter
⚡ godGoddess of the harvest, agriculture, fertility, sacred law
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Carpo
⚡ godHarvest, autumn
Goddess of the autumn harvest and one of the original Attic Horae who presided over the fruiting of crops
Demeter
⚡ godGoddess of the harvest and sacred law
The goddess of grain and agriculture whose grief at losing her daughter created winter and whose mysteries at Eleusis promised life after death.
Opis
🏔 titanHarvest, Abundance
A Titaness of plenty associated with the earth's bounty, later merged with the Roman goddess Ops who presided over agricultural wealth.
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Roman goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, identified with the Greek Aphrodite but also revered as ancestress of the Roman people
Saturn
⚡ godTime, agriculture, abundance, dissolution
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Thallo
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Goddess of spring blossoms and one of the original Attic Horae who presided over the budding of plants