In Albanian folklore, this domain’s “beauty” names a goddess who makes unreasonable demands and has a kulshedra guardian. The chant “erce erce erce” (“AIR-kay AIR-kay AIR-kay”) addresses this domain in the Anglo-Saxon metrical charm Æcerbot (“ACK-er-boat”). This domain is personified by the Hittite “genius” Dagan-zipaš, the Lithuanian goddess Žemyna, and the Thracian goddess from whom Semele likely originates. The obscure nymph Plataea is cognate with this domain’s Vedic goddess, Prithvi. Moreover, both of those names reflect the reconstructed epithet for this domain’s Proto-Indo-European mother goddess *Dʰéǵʰōm (“DEG-yoam”), who is wedded to *Dyḗus ph₂tḗr (“DAY-oos puh-TAIR”). In the Bibliotheca, Athena discards the semen of Hephaestus into this realm, whence it begets a snakeman king of Athens. For 10 points, identify this origin of the autochthonous (“uh-TOCK-thuh-nuss”) kings. ■END■
ANSWER: earth [or ground, land, soil, or equivalents; accept field or farm; reject “rock” or “stone”] (The epithet is *pl̥th₂éwih₂ (“pult-HEH-wee”), or “broad one.”)
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= Average correct buzz position