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Goddess of agriculture in ancient Greek mythology. Goddess Demeter: everything about her

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ancient greek mythology Activity:

goddess of fertility, patroness of agriculture Family status:

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Demeter: character story Demeter is the personification of the true mother. The goddess takes care of the harvest, grows the trees and cannot imagine own life

without children. But the pliable, calm woman is ready to destroy everything that she herself has created when a stranger bursts into her daughter’s peaceful life. Perhaps, boundless love made Demeter such a revered deity for the ancient Greek people.

History of origin

The exact time of the emergence of the cult of the mother goddess is unknown, but the first reliable mention of Demeter dates back to 1500 BC. Worship became especially widespread in the city of Eleusis, whose name is mentioned in the myth dedicated to the abduction.

Initially revered as the goddess of the barley field, Demeter eventually gained the status of patroness of agriculture. Simple mention in prayers gave way to five-day mysteries held every year.

Thesmophoria, as the holidays in honor of Demeter were called, were led exclusively by rich women who covered all expenses. In honor of the mother goddess, sacrifices were made, songs were sung and processions were organized.

In Roman mythology, Demeter is known as Ceres. Ceres is accompanied by the harvest goddess Annona, and the mother woman holds a variety of fruits in her hands. Ancient Greek mythology assigned another attribute to the goddess - most often Demeter is depicted with an ear of wheat in her hands. Roman name

Ceres is not the only pseudonym for Demeter. The goddess of agriculture is also known under the names Anthea, Europa, Erinyes and others. Researchers counted 18 pseudonyms for the patroness of agriculture.

Demeter in mythology

Later, the goddess's brother freed the girl from her father's stomach. Demeter settled on Olympus surrounded by relatives. A beautiful, cheerful girl attracted the attention of the Thunderer. Zeus often visited the goddess in the form of a serpent. Over time, the relationship between brother and sister became closer, and Persephone was born from the divine union. However, the ruler of Olympus soon lost interest in his sister and became interested in another young beauty.

Considering herself free, Demeter responded to the advances of another god (in other sources, a mere mortal). Iasion, the son of Zeus and Electra, long sought the goddess of fertility. Captivated by the young man’s persistence, the woman came to Iasion three times for dates, which took place in a plowed field. After these meetings, Demeter gave birth to sons Plutos and Philomela. Zeus, having learned about his sister's adventures, in a fit of jealousy killed Iasion with lightning.

No less close relationships connect Demeter and. The Lord of the Sea accidentally saw the goddess while bathing and desired the woman. But Demeter did not have reciprocal feelings for the man. To hide from persistent courtship, the goddess of fertility turned into a mare and hid in a herd grazing nearby.

The cunning move had no effect; Poseidon immediately understood his sister’s plan. The Lord of the seas and rivers turned into a stallion and overtook Demeter while she was resting in the shade of a tree. It seems that Zeus did not object to such an alliance. The new love affair brought Demeter two children: the talking horse Areyon and daughter Despina.

Demeter loved and cared for all children, but still singled out Persephone. The special affection for the daughter is illuminated by the myth telling about the girl’s marriage.

Zeus, whose duties included arranging the marriages of the gods, decided to give Persephone in marriage to his own brother, who ruled the kingdom of the dead. While the girl was walking with her friends on Earth, the newly made groom persuaded Gaia to grow an unusual flower near Persephone.

Attracted by the aroma of the plant, the daughter of Demeter left her friends. At that moment, the earth split, and Hades dragged the beauty into the underworld. Hearing the girl’s screams, Demeter rushed to the scene, but there were no traces of her daughter left. The inconsolable mother searched the world for nine days for Persephone. No one knew what happened to the girl and could not tell the goddess where to look for her daughter.

The purposeful woman finally found out the truth. Realizing that Zeus had separated her from Persephone, Demeter left Olympus. Taking on the appearance of a mere mortal, the woman began to wander around the world until she reached the city of Eleusis. Here the goddess of fertility took a job as a nanny in the house of Queen Metanira.

The royal son became the new object of Demeter's worship. On little boy the goddess transferred all her love to Persephone. In order not to part with the baby, Demeter decided to make the prince immortal. But during the ceremony, Metanira entered the room and screamed when she saw that the nanny was holding the boy over the fire.

The goddess dropped the child into the fire; Metanira did not have time to save her son. The angry goddess appeared before the queen in her true form and ordered the construction of a temple in her own honor in the city. The lonely and unhappy sister of Zeus settled there, ceasing to talk with gods and mortals.

While Demeter was looking for her daughter and grieving over her loss, the fields on earth dried up and the trees stopped bearing fruit. Concerned Zeus sent messengers to his sister asking her to come to her senses. But Demeter did not listen to her family. The only way out was to return Persephone to her mother, but Hades did not want to part with his wife.

Then the lord of Olympus decided that the daughter would spend two-thirds of the year with her mother, and return to her husband for the remaining time. Since then, every autumn Demeter falls into longing for her daughter and is reborn and has fun again with the arrival of spring.

The myths dedicated to Demeter mention beautiful hair goddesses whose color resembles a wheat field.

The meaning of the name of the patroness of agriculture is not clear. The first part of Demeter's name is translated as "mother". There is some debate about the second component. Possible translation is “mother earth” or “mother wheat”.
The ancient Greeks dedicated the constellation Virgo to Demeter.

Demeter- in ancient times Greek mythology goddess of fertility and agriculture. One of the most revered deities of the Olympic pantheon. Her name means "Mother Earth".

The cult of the mother goddess, the patroness of farmers who protects all life on earth, goes back to the pre-Indo-European era. The Indo-European peoples called her Mother Earth. She is the “Great Mother,” giving birth to all living things and receiving the dead, the embodiment of primitive creative energy. In a similar form (according to one hypothesis), Demeter was also revered: she was considered the patroness of sorcerers, in which she was identified with the great goddess, who was an assistant in witchcraft and the only assistant from him. She was also called (“Avenger”), Thermasia (“Hot”), Chthonia (“Earthly”, “Underground”); her daughter - - was the queen of the underworld of the dead. At the same time, Demeter is a “good goddess”, the guardian of life, who taught humanity agriculture.

In Roman mythology, Demeter's counterpart was Ceres, the goddess of the fertile field. In late antiquity, the cult of Demeter was mixed with the cult of Cybele. Sometimes Demeter was seen in the constellation Virgo.

The establishment of the Mysteries of the Great Goddesses dates back to mythical times. Only in Megalopolis were there statues of Callignothus, Mentas, Sosigenes and Paul, who established them already in the 4th century. BC e. In 272 BC. e. In Argos, Demeter took the form of an old woman and killed King Pyrrhus with tiles. A temple was built for Demeter and Pyrrhus was buried there.

The most famous festivals associated with the cult of Demeter are the Eleusinian Mysteries, which symbolically represented the grief of Demeter, who lost her daughter, and her wanderings in search of Persephone, the secret connection between the world of the living and world of the dead, physical and spiritual cleansing. Participants in the rituals fasted, drank kykeon - a drink made from barley and mint, which, according to legend, Demeter drank in the house of Kelei - and then entered the temple dedicated to the goddess, where they were shown some sacred objects. Those who completed the ritual were considered initiated into the mysteries of life and death; Even slaves were allowed to take part in it.

The gods and goddesses of the ancient Greek pantheon are beautiful and understandable to people, as they have many human qualities; they also love and hate, have compassion or take revenge. Demeter is one of the most revered goddesses by the Greek people, respect and recognition for whom continues to this day.

Who is Demeter?

Demeter is Mother Earth. In different cults you can find another name for Demeter - the Great Mother. The image of the goddess embraces all living things. Her body is the home of a person, no more, no less, she is the planet Earth itself. The Mother Goddess was born from the mighty Titans and Rhea. Her brother is the thunderer Zeus, who desired and seduced her in the guise of a bull. The beloved child is the daughter of Persephone, for whom many tears were shed by the grieving goddess.

Demeter is also known by other names that complement her beautiful image:

Chthonia – underground;
Ceres (Latin name);
Virgo (in the form of a constellation);
Achaea - mourner;
Sieve – bakery;
Fury;
Thesmophora – legislator and patroness of legal marriages;
Erinyes is vengeful.

The cult of Demeter was widespread among farmers. She taught people arable and sowing work. In the work of the ancient Greek poet Hesiod, “The Works of the Farmer,” there is an instructional poem about how important it is to honor the goddess. The poet tells us that before throwing grains into the ground, one must pray to the most pure Demeter and honor the entire range of agricultural work: from touching the handle of the plow and harnessing the oxen to collecting lush, ripe ears of corn. Great Mother in all its splendor.

Symbol of Demeter

The ancient Greek goddess Demeter was depicted as a beautiful woman with soft features, wheat-colored hair and a loose-flowing tunic. The goddess's head is surrounded by a shining halo. Another appearance of the mourning Demeter is also known: a mature, exhausted woman in a black robe with a hood thrown over her head. Attributes and symbols of Mother Earth:

a basket with ripe ears of corn, a wreath of them on the head - a symbol of fertility;
a burning torch lit from the Etna volcano - a symbol of the search for a daughter;
the pig is an animal dedicated to the goddess due to its fertility;
poppy - the flower of Demeter, with the help of which she cured her son Kelei from prolonged insomnia.

Goddess Demeter in Greek mythology

The goddess’s relationship with other equally important inhabitants of Olympus is built mainly around the central myth, where the fertility goddess Demeter does not come to terms with the loss of her daughter and challenges all the gods. She is the one who can turn a blooming and beautiful land into a lifeless desert. And the gods, seeing her tough position, compromise, because she is none other than the Great Mother.

The Myth of Demeter and Persephone

Demeter and Persephone (Kore) - loving and very attached mother and daughter spend a lot of time together, they are kindred spirits. It so happened that Hades (Hades) saw the matured Persephone and fell in love. Having gone to Zeus, Hades began to ask for the hand of his daughter, to which the diplomatic Zeus did not answer “yes” or “no.” The insidious god of the underworld took this as a signal to action and decided to kidnap Cora.

Cora, along with Artemis and Athena, frolicked in the meadow and bent over each fragrant flower, studying their aroma, feeling the delicate scent of an unfamiliar plant. Persephone moved away from the other goddesses to pick the miracle flower narcissus, which was grown by Gaia (goddess of the earth), especially for the purpose of abduction Persephone by Hades. The earth opened up and from it the terrible Hades on a black chariot kidnapped the goddess screaming for help. No one saw the abduction except the sun god Helios. The mother, who hurried to her daughter’s screams, did not find her.

For nine days, Demeter, distraught with grief, searched for her daughter. All nature drooped, the vineyards and all the seedlings dried up. Helios took pity on the grieving mother and spoke about the agreement between Hades and Zeus. Demeter went to her brother in a rage and demanded that her daughter be returned or the land would no longer flourish and people would die of hunger. The gods consulted and concluded a new agreement; Cora spends the winter with Hades, and the rest of the time with her mother. Thus a happy reunion took place. But winter comes, and Demeter again grieves in separation from her daughter until spring.

Demeter and Hera

Greek goddess Demeter is the sister of Hera, the wife of Zeus and Hestia, the virgin goddess. There is no information or sources left about the relationship between the sisters, but knowing Hera’s burning jealousy, we can assume that the relationship was not simple. The sisters are united by the fact that each of them has had many trials and losses. Demeter is separated from her daughter, Hera is unhappy in her marriage. Zeus is to blame for all their twists and turns of fate - husband, brother, father of children rolled into one.

Demeter and Dionysus

Dionysus, the god of viticulture, winemaking and fertility (his more ancient form Dionysus-Zagreus), in the Hellenistic period began to be identified with Iacchus or Bacchus, the son of Demeter (in some sources her husband). The fertility goddess Demeter, overjoyed that her daughter had returned from the underworld, taught the inhabitants of the city of Eleusis, where she indulged in sorrow, to agriculture. Thus, in honor of the goddess, the Eleusinian Mysteries arose, which were then joined by the cult. The image of the divine child Dionysus, as an intermediary between the goddess and people, was carried at the head of the procession.

Demeter and Hades

Hades, the god of the land of the dead, is the brother of Demeter. A sad fate befalls not only earthly women, but also goddesses. Both Demeter's brothers, Hades and Zeus, turned out to be hard-hearted and unfair to their sister. And in retaliation for this, Erinyes, the “vengeful” Demeter, turns the earthly world into a kind of underground kingdom. The earth becomes as gray and dry as the abode of Hades. No one thought about Demeter in grief and the disastrous result was not long in coming. The brother and part-time son-in-law of the goddess was forced to let Persephone go to her mother before the snow cover. The balance in nature has been restored.

All people are passionate about something and are interested in something. The object of passion for many people is Greek culture with all its gods and goddesses. It is quite difficult to understand all the intricacies of the Greek pantheon of gods at once. It's better to do this gradually. The goddess Demeter is where to start.

Pedigree

At the very beginning, it is worth noting that Demeter is the daughter of Rhea and Kronos, the sister of the almighty god Zeus, and that puts her on the same level as the most powerful and influential gods of Olympus.

Purpose

The goddess Demeter is considered the patroness of farmers, the mother of the fertility of the earth. According to legend, thanks to her and her daughter Persephone, the seasons change - only part of the year can mother and daughter spend together, then summer begins on earth. All other times, Persephone lives in a dungeon with her husband Hades, and at this time Demeter yearns and cries for her daughter, giving birth to rains, snowstorms and bad weather. And only when the hour of meeting approaches, a thaw sets in, does Demeter have hope for see you soon and spring comes.

Image

The goddess Demeter is very attractive, and her image is warm and pleasant. So, her hair is like ears of ripe wheat, her face is sweet, and her body is lush and rich. At one time, it was precisely such women that attracted men, so Demeter was always desired by the opposite sex. The goddess's character is kind, she is calm and balanced, but with a painful sense of justice. She often brutally punished people who tried to deceive her or their own kind.

Art

The goddess Demeter was sung by many poets; great amount legends and painted paintings. She was often represented in the form of a wandering woman in search of her daughter, sometimes sitting, surrounded by the fruits of the earth. Her main attributes are ears of corn, symbols of fertility, as well as a torch as a symbol of the search for her lost daughter. Demeter considered the Snake and Pig her own.

Heritage

All gods had their followers - dedicated people. So, the origin of the name Dmitry is interesting, which stands for “dedicated to Demeter,” “one who worships Demeter, the goddess of fertility.”

Celebrations

Demeter is a goddess from the category of “first”, “great” goddesses who stand at the head of Olympus. That is why the people found a reason to honor Demeter on earth, creating a mother cult dedicated to her. Dedicated women often reproduced in special mysteries the grief and longing of mother Demeter for her daughter. It was not so easy to become a participant in this ritual. It is imperative to fast first and cleanse yourself physically and spiritually. Next, those who were admitted to the mysteries drank a special drink - kykeon - and were allowed into the temple. What happened behind the doors of the temple always remained a secret, the disclosure of which was punishable by death. That is why little is known about these sacraments. But scientists suggest that the drink contained certain substances that changed the consciousness of each person, allowing them to fully surrender to what was happening with both soul and body. Those who underwent the mysteries were considered initiated into the mysteries of life and death and were in good standing with society. An interesting fact is that slaves were also allowed to participate in the mysteries.

The meaning of the word DEMETER in the Dictionary-Reference Book of Myths Ancient Greece,

DEMETER

Goddess of fields, fertility, patroness of agriculture. Daughter of Kronos and Rhea. From the union with Zeus, the daughter Persephone (goddess of fertility and the kingdom of the dead, wife of Hades) was born. The goddess Demeter, after Hades kidnapped her daughter Persephone, searched for her all over the earth, indulging in grief. The earth at that time was barren, and Zeus decided that Persephone would spend half the year on Olympus and half the year in Hades. After this, Demeter, in the form of a nanny, was in the house of the Eleusinian king Keleus and tried to make his son Demophon immortal, rubbing him with magic ointments and holding him over the fire. Demophon's mother, Metanira, secretly seeing her child engulfed in flames, prevented the goddess. From a connection with Poseidon, when Demeter and Poseidon took the form of horses, the magical horse Areion was born. Demeter corresponds to the Roman Ceres.

// Alexey FANTALOV: Demeter // Valery BRUSOV: Towards Demeter // N.A. Kuhn: DEMETER AND PERSEPHONE // N.A. Kuhn: THE ABDUCTION OF PERSEPHONE BY HADES // N.A. Kuhn: TRIPTOLEMUS // N.A. Kuhn: ERYSICHTHON

Myths of Ancient Greece, dictionary-reference book. 2012

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Goddess of agriculture in ancient Greek mythology. Goddess Demeter: everything about her

Married

without children. But the pliable, calm woman is ready to destroy everything that she herself has created when a stranger bursts into her daughter’s peaceful life. Perhaps, boundless love made Demeter such a revered deity for the ancient Greek people.

Ceres is not the only pseudonym for Demeter. The goddess of agriculture is also known under the names Anthea, Europa, Erinyes and others. Researchers counted 18 pseudonyms for the patroness of agriculture.

Who is Demeter?

Symbol of Demeter

Goddess Demeter in Greek mythology

The Myth of Demeter and Persephone

Demeter and Hera

Demeter and Dionysus

Demeter and Hades

The meaning of the word DEMETER in the Dictionary-Reference Book of Myths Ancient Greece,

See also interpretations, synonyms, meanings of the word and what DEMETRA is in Russian in dictionaries, encyclopedias and reference books:

What else to read

THE LAST NOTES

Goddess of agriculture in ancient Greek mythology. Goddess Demeter: everything about her

Married

without children. But the pliable, calm woman is ready to destroy everything that she herself has created when a stranger bursts into her daughter’s peaceful life. Perhaps, boundless love made Demeter such a revered deity for the ancient Greek people.

Ceres is not the only pseudonym for Demeter. The goddess of agriculture is also known under the names Anthea, Europa, Erinyes and others. Researchers counted 18 pseudonyms for the patroness of agriculture.

Who is Demeter?

Symbol of Demeter

Goddess Demeter in Greek mythology

The Myth of Demeter and Persephone

Demeter and Hera

Demeter and Dionysus

Demeter and Hades

The meaning of the word DEMETER in the Dictionary-Reference Book of Myths Ancient Greece,

See also interpretations, synonyms, meanings of the word and what DEMETRA is in Russian in dictionaries, encyclopedias and reference books:

What else to read

THE LAST NOTES

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