Image of the goddess Tellus Mater in an 11th-century scroll of Easter chants
An eleventh-century scroll of Easter chants contains an image of the ancient Italic earth goddess Tellus Mater. In the Exultet manuscript she appears as Mother Nature, suckling a calf and a serpent at her breasts.
The goddess was regarded not only as the creator of all that exists but also as the orderer of the world. Tellus was, besides, held to be a goddess of death: she was associated with the return of all living things to nature once life has left them.
One of the festivals held in honour of Tellus prescribed the sacrifice of a pregnant cow. The pontiffs and the Vestal Virgins took part in the procession. The ashes of the calves burned at their birth were kept until the coming of spring.
