Before the stars shone and the earth was alive, there was only chaos - an endless, dark abyss. But out of this void rose something powerful: Gaia, the first goddess, Mother Earth. Her first breath shook the world. With each movement she formed mountains, valleys and vast plains. She wrapped herself around chaos like a protective cloak, ready to bring forth life. Her existence was a promise that order and beauty would replace the void. From her womb sprang the sky and the sea, and with them the universe began its rhythm.

She is the personified earth and the basis of all life. Alongside her, other original beings emerged such as Tartaros (the underworld), Eros (love), Nyx (night) and Erebos (darkness).

Zeus and the Olympian gods had overthrown the Titans and reorganized the world under their rule. But Gaia was dissatisfied. She felt that the new generation of gods was abusing their power. She was particularly angry when Zeus threw the Hecatonchires and Cyclopes into Tartarus again, even though they had helped him in the war.

Angry and filled with vengeance, Gaia created Typhon, a monster of unfathomable size and horror. Typhon's head touched the stars and flames shot from his eyes. His hands were claws strong enough to tear mountains apart and his voice was like thunder. Gaia unleashed Typhon on Zeus and Olympus trembled in fear.

The battle between Zeus and Typhon was epochal. Lightning flashed and the earth shook as the two forces clashed. Ultimately, it was Zeus who subdued Typhon and banished him beneath the volcano Etna. But Gaia swore that her children and her creatures would never stop fighting for balance.

Before Apollo took over the Oracle of Delphi, it was Gaia who spoke there. Her voice rose from the depths of the earth, through the sacred priestess who sat on a three-legged chair. Gaia gave mortals prophecies - often enigmatic and dark - that changed the course of history.

But Apollo, young and ambitious, claimed the oracle for himself. It is said that he killed Gaia's sacred serpent Python to gain control of the holy place. Gaia withdrew, but her voice never completely died away. The earth itself, people believed, still spoke through its quakes, the rustling of the trees and the flow of the rivers.

"The earth lives, breathes and feels; she nourishes us with boundless love, but she never forgets when we hurt her."