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Demeter (Ceres)
In Greek mythology, Demeter was an Olympian goddess. Her Roman equivalent was Ceres. She was the goddess of harvest.
805 Questions
What are other names for Demeter?
Other names for Demeter include Ceres (in Roman mythology) and the Great Mother.
Why did Demeter marry her brother Zeus?
Demeter did not marry her brother Zeus in Greek mythology. Demeter was the sister of Zeus, and she was the goddess of agriculture and fertility. Zeus was married to his sister Hera, who was the queen of the gods.
Why did Demeter place Demophoon in the red heart of the fire at night?
she did this to try to make demophoon immortal
What is the animal to Demeter?
In Greek mythology, the animal most commonly associated with Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility, is the pig. Pigs were often sacrificed in her honor and were considered sacred to her.
What values are shown in Demeter and Persephone?
In the myth of Demeter and Persephone, key values include maternal love, perseverance, loyalty, transformation, and the cycle of life and death. Demeter's fierce protection and devotion to her daughter, Persephone's resilience during her time in the Underworld, and the eventual reunion symbolize the themes of love, resilience, and renewal.
What is the name of Zeus and Demeter's son?
They didn't have a son, they had a daughter. Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Dementer. She was also the wife of Hades, and Queen of the Underworld.
How many daughters did Demeter have?
Demeter had two daughters, the most famous of which was Persephone. The other was calle Despoina.
Who are the fathers of Demeter's children?
Persephone (by Zeus) Despoina (by Poseidon) Arion (by Poseidon) Plutus (by Iasion) Philomelus (by Iasion) Eubolus by (Carmanor) Amphitheus I(by Triptolemus)
Two things come to mind, that as a goddess of growing - Demeter when wronged, was also goddess of crop failure; hunger and starvation. Demeter was also a main goddess in a mystery cult that promised passage to Elysium in the Underworld, her brother and son-in-law Hades was king of the underworld, and her daughter Persephone the queen. So making her mad could result in death, and a very bad "afterlife". What is called "the Great Famine" happened when Persephone was taken and Demeter searched for her daughter, her cold (wintery) fury causing all plants to stop growing.
Individuals that felt her wrath include Askalabos, whom turned into a starry-spotted newt after calling the goddess greedy when seeing her drink something with barley. Askalaphos the son of Akheron and Gorgyra, bore witness against Persephone saying that she had ate when in the Underworld; in punishment for which Demeter pinned him down with a heavy rock in Hades' realm; later when Heracles freed him of this Demeter turned him into a horned owl.
Aithon / Triopeius / Erysikhthon, who cut down a holy poplar in Demeter's grove for his feasting hall: Demeter then made him burn with a hunger that could not be quenched, the more he ate the more he desired. Last of all, toward the end of his life, when a snake was sent to plague him, he suffered many ills, and at last winning death, was put among the stars by the will of Demeter. And so the snake, coiling round him, still seems to inflict deserved and everlasting punishment.
The above constellation Ophiuchus is also mentioned below.
Karnabon king of the Getae, was visited by Triptolemus sent by Demeter in dragon drawn cart to show men how to use grain and live more civilized lives: at first welcomed, Karnabon plotted treachery, slaying the dragon so Triptolemus could not flee from when he realized he was about to be put to death in a ambush. Demeter replaced the dragon, then killing him put him in the stars with a dragon in his arms as if about to kill it to remind all in warning. (Constellation Ophiuchus).
Kolontas when Demeter came to Argolis, while Atheras and Mysios afforded hospitality to the goddess, Kolontas neither received her into his home nor paid her any other mark of respect - his daughter Khthonia did not approve: Kolontas was punished by being burnt up along with his house, while Khthonia was brought to Hermione by Demeter, and made the sanctuary for the Hermionians.
Lynkos received Triptolemus in Scythia where he ruled: when Triptolemus was asked how he had come, his journey's cause, his name and country.He answered: 'Famous Athenae is my country and my name is Triptolemus. No sail brought me by sea, nor foot by land, the sky lay wide to give me way. I bring the gifts of Demeter. If you sow them wide over your ploughland, they will give you back bountiful harvests, gentle nourishment.' Lynkos grew jealous of this and pretended hospitality, when Triptolemus slept Lynkos would have plunged a dagger into his heart and claimed the goddesses gift as his own to give to others: Demeter transformed the king into a lynx; then told Triptolemus to go homeward through the air which he did.
Minthe was a lover of Hades before Persephone, and when Hades brought Persephone back to the Underworld - Minthe complained and was jealous saying that 'she was nobler of form and more excellent in beauty than dark-eyed Persephone and she boasted that Aidoneus would return to her and banish the other from his halls' so Demeter trampled her beneath her foot and destroyed her: from the earth mint (which bears her name) grows.
Pyrrhos (king of Epirus and Macedon: 319/318 BC-272 BC) was wounded in the head in an attack on the city of Argos. It is said that his death was caused by a blow from a tile thrown by a woman. The Argives however declare that it was not a woman who killed him but Demeter in the likeness of a woman. There is a sanctuary of Demeter, built at the command of the oracle, on the spot where Pyrrhos died, and in it Pyrrhos is buried.
Seirens: nymphs whom were transformed into bird-shaped monsters by Demeter. Some say this metamorphosis was a curse, a punishment for refusing to help in the search for Persephone, others a blessing, helping them in the search for their beloved mistress.
So while Demeter did do "bad things" they were justified in myths.
Who are some of Demeter's relatives?
Her mom and dad are Cronos and Rhea, her grandparents are Gaea and Uranus, she also has a daughter named Persephone.
Her sisters are Hera and Hestia, and her brothers are Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades.
areion - immortal horse that was the offspring of demeter and poseidon when poisidon raped her in disguised as a horse.
despoine - daughter of poseidon and demeter. a goddess in some arkadian mysteries.
eubouleus - demi-god of the ploughed earth. son of demeter and karmanor (a mortal)
khrysothemis - demi-goddess of the harvest festival. daughter of demeter and karmanor (a mortal)
korybas - leader of samothracian korybantes, son of demeter and iasion.
persephone - queen of the underworld. daughter of demeter and zeus. she was stolen by hades and when demeter found out she brought famine down upon the earth until zeus negotiated her return.
philomelos-bootes - demi-god inventor of the wagon and the plough-share. son of demeter and iasion.
ploutos - god of agricultural wealth. son of demeter and iasion.
In Greek mythology, Demeter is often associated with horses due to her connection with agriculture and fertility. However, she is not commonly portrayed as having a specific pet.
What is an autobiography of Demeter?
Demeter does not have an autobiography as she is a figure in Greek mythology. However, her story and characteristics are often documented in myths, poetry, and literature. Demeter is known as the goddess of agriculture, fertility, and harvest, and is often linked to the myth of her daughter Persephone being taken to the underworld by Hades.
Demeter was the goddess of all the earth's fruits, not only grain (though this was by far the most important food-crop). As the goddess of horticulture, the growing of figs, apples, pears and other fruits fell within her dominion (with the exception of olives, the province of Athena, grapes, the province of Dionysos, and pomegranates). She was also the goddess of vegetable crops (with the exception of beans, which for some reason were regarded as impure).
Demeter was the goddess of grain and bread, the staple food of the ancient Greeks.
She was also, by contrast, the goddess of starvation and hunger. When the crops failed, hunger would quickly follow. Like most of the Greek gods, she represented a force of nature, which in its dual nature could bring either blessing (a bountiful harvest) or curse (crop failure).
Barley-meal was a porridge-like drink widely consumed in ancient Greece. It was particularly holy to Demeter and was inbibed in the rituals of her Mysteries.
Greek gods and goddesses were only known for one name, the secondary name being a title or poetic epithets which describes her as the goddess Demeter.
Where does Demeter spend most of her time?
in athens
On Mount Olympus, with the other gods and goddesses.
How does a cat symbolize Demeter?
Nothing: cats are not a ancient symbol of Demeter the Greek harvest goddess.
Is Demeter the goddess of pigs?
No, she's the goddess of harvest- however, apparently pigs were among those animals considered sacred to her.
What are the attributes of Demeter?
DEMETER was the great Olympian goddess of agriculture.
This page describes her attributes, estate, and sacred plants and animals.
Her usual attributes in classical art were sheaf of grain, crown and sceptre.
Demeter's most important sacred plants were the poppy and mint, not to mention the grain crops of wheat and barley. Her animal was the serpent.
Demeter, the Greek Goddess of fertility and the harvest, has a daughter called Persephone. Persephone was accidentally forced to spend half of the year in the Underworld with Hades as his wife, and that is why Autumn and Winter are cold and infertile, as Demeter mourns for her daughter.
What animals does Demeter have as a symbol?
Demeter is not often symbolized by an animal, but she has a few animals that are considered sacred to her, chief among them being the snake which is associated with her by virtue of it being a symbol of rebirth in nature and the fertility of the earth.
What is Demeter's weapon of choice?
Demeter's weapon was not physical. Her weapon was related to her food-related power. Hence, her main weapon was the power of starvation.
