Vanera

# Vanera, Olympian Goddess of the Harvest

An Olympian artist's rendition of Vanera

Vanera was the second most important deity in Olympian mythology. The overseer of the harvest, Vanera was worshipped almost as often as Khathos due to her responsibility being the most necessary aspect of survival. Olympians offered the ripest vegetables, fruits, and nuts they produced in all harvest seasons, hoping that Vanera would smile upon them and grant them a better harvest season than the last. This gesture of thankfulness and worship became increasingly important to the Native Calderians throughout their ancient history due to their steady population growth.

Vanera is most known for her marriage to Khathos. Native Calderians viewed her as Khathos's equal rather than as a lesser deity even though she was crafted from clay and did not exist prior to her creation.

She is also Zydreus's biological mother, as she gave birth to him after a lavish party with Khathos, Udes, Kashena, and Atris. She is the adoptive mother of the four deities (Udes, Kashena, Melene, and Atris) who were created through other circumstances. Vanera raised Melene and Zydreus simultaneously. However, each deity was born through different methods and in unique circumstances.

## Name

The name 'Vanera,' is derived from the ancient Calderian word for veneration. Her name is derived from this word due to how often ceremonies celebrated her and how much ancient Olympian culture encouraged offerings to her.

## Mythology

### Vanera's Birth and Early Responsibilities

Vanera was created out of clay due to Khathos's loneliness that arrived early after the creation of man. Her beauty quickly aroused Khathos and he immediately fell in love with her. She did not find him disrespectful, desperate, or unattractive. However, she distrusted his motives because she was the only other deity in existence. She left Khathos alone for a time and wandered the world observing man's condition and exploring the new natural landscapes that had been recently created.

After seeing man's early struggles with basic survival and poor farming, she grew compassionate for man's situation and returned to Khathos. She explained to him that man needed better farming techniques and harvests in order to thrive. Khathos observed man's efforts for a time to make his own evaluation. Still loving her, he elevated her to be the Goddess of the Harvest and bestowed upon her a scythe and spade. She began to manipulate man's harvest based on the weather patterns that Khathos created and how generous man was to her in harvest offerings. Ever so often when man wholeheartedly offered her sacrifices in true gratitude, she gave man innovative ideas that led to farming technology.

### The Birth of Zydreus

For a time, Khathos swooned over Vanera after banishing Inemis to Purgatory. He began drinking a bottle of wine a day and eventually had sexual relations with her at night on the third consecutive evening of his drinking. Vanera, over the course of several months, discovered she was pregnant and she began experiencing mood swings as a result. She became more irritated at Khathos when he began displaying his love for her. Her increased tiredness led her to stay in her bedroom more often, sometimes not appearing in the presence of the other deities for weeks at a time. When her pregnancy was clearly recognizable, Vanera told Khathos about her condition. Three months later, she went into labor and gave birth to a son. Khathos gave him the name Zydreus. He became the God of Victory and Vengeance according to this event being a victorious moment for Khathos after Inemis' banishment.

### Personality

Vanera was known to be a usually pleasant woman who was happiest when she tended to her plants in the gardens of the palace. A levelheaded and calm woman in the presence of Khathos, Vanera usually was the one who kept Khathos from making rash decisions. However, she would become frustrated and grumpy if her wisdom was disregarded. Even though she was married to the most powerful deity, Vanera rarely relied upon Khathos for anything, valuing her independence. She often became unamused by Khathos's unfrequent swooning. However, sometimes she gave into him and responded back to him in kind.

### Appearance

Like other deities, Vanera has rarely been seen by mankind. However, she has been seen wearing a simple aqua blue-green dress while walking through the fertile farmland of Olympia. She appears as a woman in her mid thirties with fair skin. Her brown hair is usually pulled back into milkmaid braids or an intricate french twist. She exudes calmness and confidence within her hazel brown eyes and narrow face.