DuckstersDucksters
History Biography Geography Science Games

Greek Mythology

Demeter

Greek goddess Demeter sitting on throne
Demeter by Varrese Painter

History >> Ancient Greece >> Greek Mythology

Goddess of: Harvest, grain, and fertility
Symbols: Wheat, cornucopia, torch, swine
Parents: Cronus and Rhea
Children: Persephone, Arion, Plutus
Spouse: none (but had children with Zeus and Poseidon)
Abode: Mount Olympus
Roman name: Ceres

Demeter is the Greek goddess of the harvest, grain, and fertility. She is one of the Twelve Olympian gods that live on Mount Olympus. Because she was the goddess of the harvest, she was very important to the farmers and peasant people of Greece.

How was Demeter usually pictured?

Demeter was often pictured as a mature woman sitting on a throne. She wore a crown and carried a torch or sheaves of wheat. When Demeter was traveling she rode a golden chariot pulled by dragons.

What special powers and skills did she have?

Like all the Olympian gods, Demeter was immortal and very powerful. She had control over the harvest and the growing of grains. She could cause plants to grow (or not grow) and had control over the seasons. She also had some control over the weather and could make people hungry.

Birth of Demeter

Demeter was the daughter of the two great Titans Cronus and Rhea. Like her brothers and sisters, she was swallowed by her father Cronus when she was born. However, she was later rescued by her youngest brother Zeus.

Goddess of the Harvest

As goddess of the harvest, Demeter was worshiped by the people of Greece as they depended on good crops for food and survival. The main temple to Demeter was located a short distance from the city of Athens in a sanctuary at Eleusis. Secret rites were held each year at the sanctuary called the Eleusinian Mysteries. The Greeks believed these rites were important in insuring good crops.

Persephone

Demeter didn't marry, but she had a daughter named Persephone with her brother Zeus. Persephone was the goddess of springtime and vegetation. Together, Demeter and Persephone watched over the world's seasons and plants. One day, the god Hades took Persephone to the Underworld to make her his wife. Demeter became very sad. She refused to help the crops grow and there was a great famine in the world. Eventually, Zeus said that Persephone could return to Mount Olympus, but had to spend four months each year in the Underworld with Hades. These four months are when nothing grows during winter.

Triptolemus

When Persephone was first taken by Hades, Demeter wandered the world disguised as an old woman mourning and searching for her daughter. One man was particularly kind to her and took her in. As a reward, she taught his son Triptolemus the art of agriculture. According to Greek Mythology, Triptolemus then traveled across Greece on a winged chariot teaching the Greeks how to grow crops and farm.

Interesting Facts About the Greek Goddess Demeter Activities For more about Ancient Greece:

Overview
Timeline of Ancient Greece
Geography
The City of Athens
Sparta
Minoans and Mycenaeans
Greek City-states
Peloponnesian War
Persian Wars
Decline and Fall
Legacy of Ancient Greece
Glossary and Terms

Arts and Culture
Ancient Greek Art
Drama and Theater
Architecture
Olympic Games
Government of Ancient Greece
Greek Alphabet

Daily Life
Daily Lives of the Ancient Greeks
Typical Greek Town
Food
Clothing
Women in Greece
Science and Technology
Soldiers and War
Slaves

People
Alexander the Great
Archimedes
Aristotle
Pericles
Plato
Socrates
25 Famous Greek People
Greek Philosophers

Greek Mythology
Greek Gods and Mythology
Hercules
Achilles
Monsters of Greek Mythology
The Titans
The Iliad
The Odyssey

The Olympian Gods
Zeus
Hera
Poseidon
Apollo
Artemis
Hermes
Athena
Ares
Aphrodite
Hephaestus
Demeter
Hestia
Dionysus
Hades

Works Cited

History >> Ancient Greece >> Greek Mythology



Ducksters Footer Gif with Ducks


About Ducksters Privacy Policy 

 

This site is a product of TSI (Technological Solutions, Inc.), Copyright 2024, All Rights Reserved. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use.