Yemoya is the ultimate symbol and the personification of motherhood, in that she represents the place of origin and the maternal source of divine, human animal and plant life. The most common of all encompassing maternity is the ocean, however in Yoruba land, Yemoya is the deity of the Ogun river, which is the largest river within the territory of the ancient Yoruba. Yemoya, is the deity of the top part of the ocean. Yemoya represents the birthplace of life on earth. Yemoya is also an orisha of the river. In the new world, yemoya has taken on greater proportions and the ocean, which is conductive to the growth of plants and animals, which permits the continuance of life; Yemoya is motherhood, she embodies the principals of everlastingness. Yemoya was elevated from an orisha of the river to an orisha of the ocean. yemoya is the matriarch who presides over the bloodstream. Yemoya is the cradle of life and the tides represent the motherly attempt to rock the cradle of her children. Yemoya fights those who offend her by causing stomach pains or by carrying them away in a river or by drowning them in the ocean. Her symbol is the fish, the representation of ocean life, she is also represented by ducks, seagull, the vulture and the ibis are sacred to her. She is also represented by the wharf rat. they look to Yemoya because she is the ultimate manifestation of female power and because she is therefore the greatest witch of all. her name is derived from the Yoruba title Yeye omo eja, which means "the mother whose children are the fish".
Her foods are: Hens and female goat or female sheep.
Her adimu are: Cane sugar, watermelon, pork rinds. fried green plantains.