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The Brooklyn Museum

Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art
The Dinner Party: Heritage Floor: Nerthus




signature image

Judy Chicago (American, b. 1939). The Dinner Party (Heritage Floor; detail), 1974–79. Porcelain with rainbow and gold luster, 48 x 48 x 48 ft. (14.6 x 14.6 x 14.6 m). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Elizabeth A. Sackler Foundation, 2002.10. © Judy Chicago. Photograph by Jook Leung Photography

Nerthus
Mythic, worshipped by Germanic peoples in Denmark and Old England, exact dates uncertain

The center of worship of Nerthus was in Denmark, although cults can also be found in Old England and parts of Germany. She was an Earth Mother figure and goddess of fertility and had a shrine in a secret island grove where most of her rituals were carried out. There is some speculation about her gender: she may have been androgynous or truly a female goddess, most likely with a male consort and possibly mothering the goddess Freya.

Related Place Setting

Fertile Goddess

Related Heritage Floor Entries

Bona Dea
Brigid
Cardea
Danu
Freya
Frija

Hera
Juno
Macha
Madderakka
Ninti
Tellus Mater

Last updated April 13, 2007.
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