Download Demeter/Ceres1

Demeter/Ceres1
In Greek mythology the
goddess Demeter was the most
generous of the great Olympian
goddesses. The Greek goddess
Demeter was beloved for her
service to mankind in giving them
the gift of the harvest, the reward
for cultivation of the soil.
Also known as the Roman goddess
Ceres, Demeter was the goddess of
the harvest and was credited with
teaching humans how to grow,
preserve, and prepare grain.
Demeter was thought to be responsible for the fertility of the
land.
She was the only one of the Greek goddesses who was involved
on a day-to-day basis in the lives of the common folk. While
others occasionally "dabbled" in human affairs when it suited
their personal interests, or came to the aid of "special" mortals
they favored, the goddess Demeter was truly the nurturer of
mankind.
Demeter also was the only one of the Greek goddesses who
could truly empathize with the human experience of suffering
and grief, having experienced it fully herself.
In the Greek culture a myth she is in involves Zeus. Now
Demeter wanted to remain a virgin like her sister Hestia. She
received numerous proposals but turned them down. Zeus
however got impatient. He tried to have his way with her but
she wouldn’t have it. Zeus kept persuing her, but Demeter
turned herself into a snake and hid. But Zeus followed suit
and went after her. He cornered her and had his way with her.
1 This is a summary of the myths about Demeter/Ceres by the creator of this website. Some elements may be missing. Eventually she would give birth to Persephone. Another myth
involving Demeter is with the kidnapping of her daughter
Persephone by Hades. But that is another story.
Another myth involves a guy named Erisikhthon. Erisikhthon
wanted to build a palace for himself. But the trees that were
suitable were in a forest that was sacred to Demeter. Demeter
turned herself into a maiden and met Erisikhthon on the road
to the forest. She treid to deswade him but it did no good.
Erisikhthon continued on his way and tried to chop down a
tree. But Demeter grew and toward over the trees. She then
cursed Erisikhthon. She said that he would eat and eat and
never be full. He eventually lost everything to buy food and
died in agony.
In Roman mythology Ceres was a kind and benevolent goddess
to the Romans and they had a common expression, "fit for
Ceres," which meant splendid.
She was beloved for her service to mankind in giving them the
gift of the harvest, the reward for cultivation of the soil. Ceres
was credited with teaching humans how to grow, preserve,
and prepare grain and corn. She was thought to be
responsible for the fertility of the land.
Ceres was the only one of the gods who was involved on a dayto-day basis in the lives of the common folk. While others
occasionally "dabbled" in human affairs when it suited their
personal interests, or came to the aid of "special" mortals they
favored, the goddess Ceres was truly the nurturer of mankind.
Ceres was worshipped at her temple on the Aventine Hill, one
of the Seven Hills of ancient Rome. Her festival, the Cerealia,
was celebrated on April 19. Another special time for Ceres
was Ambarvalia, a Roman agricultural fertility rite held at the
end of May.