HERTHA, or NERTHUS  , in Teutonic mythology, the goddess of fertility, "Mother Earth." Tacitus states that many Teutonic tribes worshipped her with orgies and mysterious rites celebrated at night . The chief seat of her cult was an island which has not been identified . A single priest performed the service . Her veiled statue was moved from place to place by sacred cows on which none but the priest might lay hands . At the conclusion of the rites the image, its vestments and its vehicle were bathed in a lake .