Ops

For other mythological figures, see Ops (Greek mythology). For the suffix "-ops" in taxonomy, see List of commonly used taxonomic affixes. For other uses, see OPS (disambiguation).

Ops
Goddess of earth and fertility
Livia attired as the goddess Ops
Other names	Opis ("Plenty")
Symbol	Lions, tambourine, crown, grains, cornucopia
Festivals	Opiconsivia
Personal information
Parents	Caelus, Terra
Siblings	Saturn, Janus
Consort	Saturn
Children	Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto, Juno, Ceres and Vesta

In ancient Roman religion, Ops or Opis (Latin: "Plenty") was a fertility deity and earth goddess of Sabine origin.

Iconography

In Ops' statues and coins, she is figured sitting down, as Chthonian deities normally are, and generally holds a scepter, or a corn spray and cornucopia. In Roman mythology the husband of Ops was Saturn. Ops is identified as Rhea in Greek mythology, whose husband was Cronus, the bountiful monarch of the golden age; Cronus was Rhea's brother.

Name

In Latin writings of the time, the singular nominative (Ops) is not attested; only the form Opis is used by classical authors. According to Festus (203:19), "Ops is said to be the wife of Saturn and the daughter of Caelus. By her they designated the earth, because the earth distributes all goods to the human genus" (Opis dicta est coniux Saturni per quam uolerunt terram significare, quia omnes opes humano generi terra tribuit).

The Latin word ops means "riches, goods, abundance, gifts, munificence, plenty". The word is also related to opus, which means "work", particularly in the sense of "working the earth, ploughing, sowing". This activity was deemed sacred, and was often attended by religious rites intended to obtain the good will of chthonic deities such as Ops and Consus. Ops is also related to the Sanskrit word ápnas ("goods, property").

Worship

According to Roman tradition, the cult of Opis was instituted by Titus Tatius, one of the Sabine kings of Rome. Opis soon became the matron of riches, abundance, and prosperity. Opis had a famous temple in the Capitolium. Originally, a festival took place in Opis' honor on August 10. Additionally, on December 19 (some say December 9), the Opalia was celebrated. On August 25, the Opiconsivia was held. Opiconsivia was another name used for Opis, indicating when the earth was sown. These festivals also included activities that were called Consualia, in honor of Consus, her consort.

Mythology

Opis, when syncretized with Greek mythology, was not only the wife of Saturn, she was his sister and the daughter of Caelus. Her children were Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto, Juno, Ceres, and Vesta. Opis also acquired queenly status and was reputed to be an eminent goddess. By public decree temples, priests, and sacrifices were accorded her.

When Saturn learned of a prophecy that stated his and Opis' children would end up overthrowing him as leader, he ate his children one by one after they were born. Opis, being the loving mother that she was, could not just stand by and let all of her children be eaten by her husband. So, instead of feeding Saturn their final child Jupiter, she wrapped a rock in swaddling clothes, and fed that to Saturn instead of Jupiter. Opis then went on to raise Jupiter, and then helped him free his siblings from their father's stomach.

References

Primary sources

• Boccaccio, Giovanni. (1362) De mulieribus claris.
• Livy Ab urbe condita libri XXIX.10.4–11.8, 14.5–14
• Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.13.2–4, 14.2–5

Secondary sources

• Virginia Brown's translation of Giovanni Boccaccio's Famous Women, pp. 12–13; Harvard University Press 2001; ISBN 0-674-01130-9

External links

• Media related to Ops at Wikimedia Commons