Miranda Elliott

Magna Mater

The painting is based on the story of Cronus – referred to as Saturn in Roman myth – devouring his sons. This subject has been painted by Goya and Rubens, among others, but less frequently depicted is the story of Saturn’s wife, Rhea (referred to as Cybele in Roman myth, and also Magna Mater, or “Great Mother”). Rhea saved her son, Zeus, from being consumed by Cronus by swaddling a stone and feeding it to him in the baby’s place. The title Magna Mater is a reference to this story, with the three rocks forming a family grouping: Rhea/Cybele/Magna Mater, in the middle, shields the small ‘baby/rock’ Zeus, from the menacing presence of the father Cronus/Saturn in the background.