31/05/2026
One aspect of the Teece Museum that I especially enjoy is the exhibition on maidens and mothers, alongside this statue of Cybele, also known as Magna Mater (Great Mother). The idea of a divine mother figure appears across many cultures of the ancient world. Whether it is Gaia in Greek tradition, Danu in Celtic mythology, or Papatūānuku in Māori traditions, these powerful maternal figures were seen as creators, protectors, and shapers of the world.
In Greek and Roman culture, the Magna Mater was an important figure, with Cybele representing motherhood, nature, and strength. Other divine mothers included Demeter, goddess of the harvest and the changing seasons, and Gaia, the Earth Mother from whom the Olympians and Titans traced their lineage.
Motherhood has long been celebrated as a symbol of strength, protection, and life itself. Within the Logie collection, several remarkable artefacts explore the enduring importance of the Great Mother and maternal figures in the ancient world.
What makes the Teece Museum so meaningful is how it allows us to connect ideas from antiquity with traditions closer to home in Aotearoa. In Māori cosmology, Papatūānuku is the Earth Mother and source of life, deeply connected to the natural world and the divine. Drawing these connections between cultures highlights the shared importance of motherhood, ancestry, and creation across human history.
As a multicultural country, understanding and appreciating different cultural traditions is incredibly important. I value how the Teece Museum embraces these connections while also recognising the importance of tino rangatiratanga and Māori perspectives in the way it operates.
- Text by Regina Fisher van der Veen Dilloway
Image Credits:
JLMC176.91, Statuette, 1st or 2nd Century AD.
