Demeter/Ceres: Givr of Life

The Greek and Roman Pantheons

Greek Pantheon	Roman Pantheon
Zeus	Jupiter/Jove
Hera	Juno
Poseidon	Neptune
Demeter	Ceres
Hades	Pluto
Hestia	Vesta
Hermes	Mercury
Athena	Minerva
Apollo	Apollo
Aphrodite	Venus
Ares	Mars
Hephaestus	Vulcan
	Cupid
	Bacchus

Demeter is the giver of life in Greek mytholgy. Her gift to mankind is the bountiful harvest that farmers cultivated each year. Her daughter, Persephone is usually depicted alongside her.

The most famous myth involving Demeter pertains to the seasons of the world. Although the Seasons are actually a diety in their own right, this particular myth tells the story of why they exist. Persephone was captured by Hades as a wife, and Zeus would not interfere in the matter. Through her grief, Demeter wandered the world searching for her daughter, with no luck. After quite some time, Demeter recalled all crops and would not feed mankind unless her daughter was returned to her. Zeus, seeing that no population would result in no worshippers pleaded with Hades to set Persephone free. He finally agreed, but tricked Persephone into eating some pomegranet seeds, which meant that she would have to spend some time in the Underworld as the queen. Each year when Persephone must return, Demeter weeps and withdraws her crops. Upon her return, both Persephone and Demeter rejoice and make the land bountiful with crops.

Demeter's allure was not only felt by farmers, but by fair maidens as well. The most secretive of all Greek cults belonged to Demeter. The festival dedicated to her, the Eleusinian Mysteries was so secretive that even today, not much is known about the intricacies of them. Wars were kept on cease-fire for 55 days to allow the festival's proceedings.

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			Copyright MMI (2001) Cesar S. Perez