DEMETER

Greek mythology

Demeter the Greek Earth goddess par excellence, who brings forth the fruits of
the Earth, particularly the various grains. She taught mankind the art of sowing
and ploughing so they could end their nomadic existence. As such, Demeter was
also the goddess of planned society. She was very popular with the rural
population. As a fertility goddess she is sometimes identified with Rhea and
Gaia.

In systematized theology, Demeter is a daughter of Cronus and Rhea and sister of
Zeus by whom she became the mother of Persephone. When Persephone was abducted
by Hades, lord of the underworld, Demeter wandered the Earth in search of her
lost child. During this time the Earth brought forth no grain. Finally Zeus sent
Hermes to the underworld, ordering Hades to restore Persephone to her mother.
However, before she left, Hades gave her a pomegranate. When she ate from it,
she was bound to spend a third of the year with her husband in the infernal
regions. Only when her daughter is with her, Demeter lets things grow. The dying
and blossoming of nature was thus connected with Demeter.

In the Eleusinian mysteries, Demeter and Persephone were especially venerated.
When she was looking for her daughter, in the shape of an old woman called Doso,
she was welcomed by Celeus, the king of Eleusis. He requested her to nurse his
sons Demophon and Triptolemus. To reward his hospitality she intended to make
the boy Demophon immortal by placing him each night in the hearth, to burn his
mortal nature away. The spell was broken one night because Metanira, the wife of
Celeus, walked in on her while she was performing this ritual. Demeter taught
the other son, Triptolemus, the principles of agriculture, who in turn, taught
others this art. In Demeter's honor as a goddess of marriage, women in Athens,
and other centers in Greece, celebrated the feast of Thesmophoria. Throughout
Classical times members of all social strata came from all parts of the
Mediterranean world to be initiated in and celebrate her Mysteries at Eleusis.

In ancient art, Demeter was often portrayed sitting as a solemn woman, often
wearing a wreath of braided ears of corn. Well-known is the statue made by
Knidos mid-4th century B.C.E. Her usual symbolic attributes are the fruits of
the earth and the torch, the latter presumably referring to her search for
Persephone. Her sacred animals were the snake and the pig. Some of her epithets
include Auxesia, Deo, Chloe, and Sito. The Romans equated her with the goddess
Ceres.