Gaea is a Greek goddess personifying the Earth. The name Gaea is a compound word of "Ge" meaning "Earth" and "Aia" meaning "grandmother.
Though not as popular as the Olympian gods of Greek mythology, Gaea is still revered for her role as "Mother Nature".
The divinization of the earth by the ancient Greeks as the goddess Gaea was their way of recognizing the intrinsic value of the earth's bounty, fertility, and beauty. Hellenistic worship of Gaea was also a celebration of humanity's symbiotic relationship with nature.
The idea that the fertile earth itself is female, nurturing humankind, was not limited to the Greco-Roman world.
Fertility goddess figurines found worldwide often suggest reverence for a divine, potent mother diety.
Early cultures of the Middle East (such as the Sumerian) likely made an impact on Greek views of Gaea, and veneration of the pre-Indio-European "Great Mother" has existed since Neolithic times.
Today, Gaea represents a celebration of the feminine side of creation embodied in the fertility of Mother Nature.