Demeter *** Demeter (Roman Counterpart was Ceres) When the Roman Empire conquered the Greeks in 146BC, the Romans assimilated various elements from other cultures and civilisations, including the gods and goddesses that were worshipped by the Ancient Greeks. Many of the Greek gods and goddesses, such as Demeter, were therefore adopted by the Romans but were given Latin names. The Roman counterpart of Demeter was Ceres. Picture of the goddess Demeter mourning the loss of Persephone Demeter and the Earth Goddesses In ancient Greek mythology there are three great earth-goddesses Gaia, Rhea, and Demeter. Gaia represented the earth as a whole, with its subterranean forces Rhea represented the productive power that caused vegetation to grow, sustaining men and animals Demeter, by presiding over agriculture, directed and utilized Rhea's productive powers Demeter, however, by introducing a knowledge of agriculture, put an end to the primitive nomadic lifestyles which led men to live a settled and civilised way of life.

Facts about Demeter The following facts and profile provides a fast overview of Demeter: Demeter Profile & Fact File Personality: Kind, peaceful, patient Appearance: Abundant, golden hair, attractive Role & Function: The function of Demeter is described as being the earth goddess and the goddess of fertility. She was also the goddess of agriculture, nature and the seasons Status: A Major goddess and one of the Twelve Olympians Symbols of Demeter: Torch, wheat, poppy and swine Gender: Female Roman Counterpart: The Roman name for this goddess was Ceres Name of Husband: Unmarried Picture of Arion on a sea horse The Family of Demeter, The Earth Goddess According to Greek legends and myths the family of Demeter were as follows: Father: Cronus Brothers: Zeus, Hades and Poseidon Sisters: Hestia and Hera Husband: Unmarried Children of Demeter: Daughter by Zeus - Persephone.

Despoina and Arion (by Poseidon) Plutus and Philomelus (by Iasion) Demeter and Mount Olympus In Greek Mythology the principle Greek gods, that included Demeter, were referred to as the Twelve Olympians and lived on the summit of Mount Olympus which was protected by a special layer of clouds. The gods and goddesses who lived on Mount Olympus attended sumptuous banquets in the council-chamber of the gods and feasted on ambrosia (the food of the gods) and nectar (the drink of the gods). The names of the other Olympian gods were Zeus, Hera, Athena, Hestia or Dionysus, Apollo, Ares, Aphrodite, Poseidon, Demeter, Artemis, Hephaestus and Hermes. The Greek Gods Family Tree and Genealogy The genealogy of these ancient deities can be established via the Greek gods family tree which also provides an overview of the relationship of Demeter to the other Greek gods and deities. The Greek gods family tree and genealogy provides an overview of her relationship to the other Greek gods and deities.

The Symbols of Demeter In the sculptures, vases, mosaics and paintings of Greek Art the goddess Demeter was often illustrated with images representing her symbols - the torch, wheat, poppy and pig. Iconography include pictures of the Grain Sheaf, Winged Serpent, Lotus Staff, Torch, Cornucopia. Symbols of Demeter The symbols of Demeter were: The Torch The symbol of the torch represents the pair of flaming torches she carried in her search for her daughter, Persephone Wheat The symbol of a sheaf of wheat and the cornucopia, horn of plenty reflects her role as the goddess of agriculture The Pig The symbol of the pig relates to the blood sacrifices of this animal ensuring the fertility of the earth Statue of Demeter (Ceres) by Rubins The Poppy The symbol of the poppy refers to wild poppies which grew in the grain fields. A poppy was worn by the priestesses who served Demeter.

Winged Serpents A pair of winged-serpents (dragons) drew her chariot Lotus Staff The symbolism of the Lotus staff is not clear, however, the fruit of the lotus plant induced apathy, a dreamy forgetfulness and an unwillingness to leave, hence the term 'Lotus Eaters'. It is possible that the use of this might relate to Demeter's wish to keep her daughter Persephone with her Picture of Demeter and the return of Persephone from the Underworld Myths and Legends about Demeter in Greek Mythology The most famous myths and legends relating to Demeter (Ceres) are: The abduction of Persephone by Hades The punishment of Erysichthon Ceres *** Who was Ceres? Ceres was the Roman goddess of agriculture and abundance. She was personified and celebrated by women in secret rituals at the festivals of Ambarvalia and Cerealia. The Cerealia festival was celebrated exclusively by women, who, dressed in white garments, carried torches in their hands, to represent the search of the goddess for her daughter Proserpine. During this festival, games were celebrated in the Circus Maximus, to which none were admitted unless clothed in white.

The Ambarvalia festival was held during May, in which a bull, a sow, and a sheep were led around a field before they were given as a blood sacrifice to the goddess. The completion of sowing was celebrated in December with the festivals of Paganalia and Sementivae, that were associated with the two Roman earth goddesses Ceres and the primordial deity called Tella. The name Paganalia comes from the Latin word 'pagus' meaning a rural district or township. The name Sementivae derives from the Latin word 'sementis' meaning sowing or plowing. One of the most ancient and important among the festivals observed by the ancients was that of the Eleusinian Mysteries, which was celebrated in honour of Ceres and her daughter, Proserpina. Picture of the goddess Ceres mourning the loss of Proserpina The Abduction of Perserpina Her beloved daughter, Prosperpina was abducted by Pluto and carried off into the Underworld. The poppy was a sacred symbol of Ceres in reference to the wild poppies which grew in the grain fields. A poppy was worn by the priestesses who served the goddess.

The poppy was also sacred to her, not only because it grows amongst corn, but because, in her distress at the loss of Proserpina, Jupiter gave it her to eat, that she might sleep and forget her troubles. Refer to The mythical story of Ceres and Proserpine. Facts about Ceres The following facts and profile provides a fast overview of Ceres: Ceres Profile & Fact File Role & Function: Her function is described as being the goddess of agriculture and abundance Status: Major Goddess and one of the 'Dei Consentes', the Council of Gods. Symbols: The poppy, torch, wheat seed and grains and the cornucopia, the horn of plenty, symbolising abundance Gender: Female Greek Counterpart: The Greek name for this goddess was Demeter Name of Husband: Unmarried but she took Jupiter as her lover Name of Father: Saturnus (Saturn) Name of Mother: Ops (Opis) Name of siblings: Brothers & sisters: Jupiter, Pluto, Neptune, Vesta and Juno Names of Children: Proserpina Facts about Ceres in Roman Mythology and History Discover interesting information and facts about Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture and abundance.

The facts about Ceres provides a list detailing fascinating additional info to increase your knowledge about Ceres in ancient Roman Mythology and History. History and Mythical Facts about Ceres Fact 1 about Ceres: She was the daughter of Saturn and Opis and the sister of Jupiter, Pluto, Neptune, Vesta and Juno and the mother of Proserpina Fact 2 about Ceres: She is credited with introducing the art of cultivating the earth, teaching men to plough, sow, reap, harvest, and thresh out grain to make flour and bread Fact 3 about Ceres: The Cerealia, or festivals in honour of Ceres, commenced on the 12th of April, and lasted several days. Fact 4 about Ceres: Her seven-day April festival of Cerealia included the popular Ludi Ceriales meaning "Ceres games" Fact 5 about Ceres: She was also honored during Roman marriages and funeral rites.

Fact 6 about Ceres: The symbol of the torch is associated with the goddess as a mark of Roman weddings and also refers to her carrying a torch in her search for Poroserpina Fact 7 about Ceres: Her Temple was built on the Aventine Hill in ancient Rome and served the plebeians as cult centre, legal archive and treasury Fact 8 about Ceres: The senior priest who served in her temple was called the 'flamen cerialis'. Fact 9 about Ceres: She became the patron goddess of the plebs, whose enterprise as tenant farmers and grain providers and importers were a mainstay of Roman agriculture Fact 10 about Ceres: Ceres was the name given to the first found and largest asteroid which was discovered in 1801 Ceres (Greek Counterpart was Demeter) The Romans habitually assimilated various elements from other cultures and civilisations, including the gods and goddesses that were worshipped by the Greeks and other nations. When the Roman Empire conquered the Greeks in 146BC many of the Greek gods and goddesses were adopted by the Romans. The Romans simply changed the Greek gods names to Latin equivalents. The Greek counterpart of Ceres was Demeter.

The Roman religion significantly differed from the Greeks in that it was officially endorsed by the state and exerted influence over the government of Rome. Politicians took the offices of influential priests, called pontiffs, to gain control of the popular worship, Roman gods and goddesses like Ceres were worshipped at every public event, including the gladiatorial games, where blood sacrifices were made to the gods. In ancient Rome, the pantheon of 12 major gods, including Ceres, were called the 'Dei Consentes' meaning the Council of Gods. Ceres and the Roman Gods Family Tree and Genealogy The Roman gods family tree provides an instant overview of the genealogy and the family connections and relationships between the main deities, including Ceres, who feature in the legends and mythology of the ancient Romans. The Primeval gods and deities, the Titans and the Roman Olympians. Ceres Interesting information and Facts about the Roman goddess Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture and abundance Stories and Legends in Roman Mythology associated with Ceres Facts and information about the Gods and Deities of the Ancient World for schools and kids The Roman goddess of agriculture and abundance Demeter | Define Demeter at Dictionary.com Demeter noun 1.

the ancient Greek chthonian goddess of agriculture and the protector of marriage and the social order, identified by the Romans with Ceres. She presided over the Eleusinian mysteries. Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for Demeter Expand Historical Examples Demeter is rather the fruitful soil regarded as a person than the elder Titanic formless earth personified as Ga. Fairy Book Sophie May Demeter, discovering the truth after a long search, left Heaven in anger, and took up her abode on earth. Ceremonies at Eleusis, in honour of Demeter, observed with great secrecy. Philothea Lydia Maria Child British Dictionary definitions for Demeter Expand noun 1. (Greek myth) the goddess of agricultural fertility and protector of marriage and women Roman counterpart Ceres Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.

1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for Demeter Expand goddess of agriculture, mother of Persephone, from Greek Demeter; the second element generally given as mater (see mother ); the first element possibly from da, Doric form of Greek ge "earth" (see Gaia ), but Liddell & Scott find this "improbable." The Latin masc. proper name Demetrius means "son of Demeter." Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper [Roman name Ceres ] The Greek and Roman goddess of grain, agriculture, and the harvest. The story of Demeter and her daughter, Persephone, explains the cycle of the seasons. When Persephone was carried off to the underworld by Hades , Demeter was so forlorn that she did not tend the crops, and the first winter came to the Earth .

Eventually Zeus allowed Persephone to rejoin her mother for two-thirds of every year, and thus the cycle of the seasons began. The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Demeter Greek Goddess Profile Updated August 08, 2016. Who Is Demeter?: Demeter is a goddess of fertility, grain, and agriculture. She is pictured as a mature motherly figure. Although she is the goddess who taught mankind about agriculture, she is also the goddess responsible for creating winter and a mystery religious cult. She is usually accompanied by her daughter Persephone. Occupation: Family of Origin: Demeter was a daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and so a sister of the goddesses Hestia and Hera, and the gods Poseidon, Hades, and Zeus. Demeter in Rome: The Romans referred to Demeter as Ceres. The Roman cult of Ceres was initially served by Greek priestesses , according to Cicero in his Pro Balbo oration. For the passage, see Tura's Ceres .

In "Graeco Ritu: A Typically Roman Way of Honoring the Gods" [Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, Vol. 97, Greece in Rome: Influence, Integration, Resistance (1995), pp. 15-31], author John Scheid says the foreign, Greek cult of Ceres was imported to Rome in the middle of the third century B.C. continue reading below our video 4 Tips for Improving Test Performance Ceres was also referred to as Dea Dia in connection with a three-day May Ambarvalia festival, according to "Tibullus and the Ambarvalia," by C. Bennett Pascal, in The American Journal of Philology, Vol. 109, No. 4 (Winter, 1988), pp. 523-536. Also see Ovid's Amores Book III.X, in an English translation: "No Sex -- It's the Festival Of Ceres" . Attributes: The attributes of Demeter are a sheaf of grain, a conical headdress, a scepter, a torch, and a sacrificial bowl.

Persephone and Demeter: The story of Demeter is usually combined with the story of the abduction of her daughter Persephone . Read this story in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter . Eleusinian Mystery: Demeter and her daughter are at the center of the widest spread Greek mystery cult -- the Eleusinian Mysteries -- a mystery religion that was popular in Greece and in the Roman Empire . Named for the location in Eleusis , the mystery cult may have started in the Mycenaean period , according to Helene P. Foley, in The Homeric hymn to Demeter: translation, commentary, and interpretive essays. She says that substantial remains of the cult begin in the 8th century B.C., and that the Goths destroyed the sanctuary a few years before the start of the fifth century A.D. The Homeric Hymn to Demeter is the oldest record of the Eleusinian Mysteries, but it is a mystery and we don't really know what transpired. Orphic Hymn to Demeter (Ceres): Above, I provided a link to the so-called Homeric Hymn to Demeter (in public domain English translation).

It tells of the abduction of Demeter's daughter Persephone and the trials the mother went through to find her again. The Orphic hymn paints a picture of the nurturing, fertility goddess. XXXIX. O Universal mother, Ceres fam'd August, the source of wealth, and various nam'd: 2 Great nurse, all-bounteous, blessed and divine, Who joy'st in peace, to nourish corn is thine: Goddess of seed, of fruits abundant, fair, 5 Harvest and threshing, are thy constant care; Who dwell'st in Eleusina's seats retir'd, Lovely, delightful queen, by all desir'd. Nurse of all mortals, whose benignant mind, First ploughing oxen to the yoke confin 'd; 10 And gave to men, what nature's wants require, With plenteous means of bliss which all desire. In verdure flourishing in honor bright, Assessor of great Bacchus, bearing light: Rejoicing in the reapers sickles, kind, 15 Whose nature lucid, earthly, pure, we find.

Prolific, venerable, Nurse divine, Thy daughter loving, holy Proserpine: A car with dragons yok'd, 'tis thine to guide, 19 And orgies singing round thy throne to ride: 20 Only-begotten, much-producing queen, All flowers are thine and fruits of lovely green. Bright Goddess, come, with Summer's rich increase Swelling and pregnant, leading smiling Peace; Come, with fair Concord and imperial Health, 25 And join with these a needful store of wealth. From: The Hymns of Orpheus Translated by Thomas Taylor Demeter | Riordan Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Demeter, in Percy Jackson's Greek Gods Demeter was the second child of Kronos , the Titan King of Mount Othrys, and his sister-wife, Rhea . Since Demeter was a goddess (a member of a more beautiful and powerful race of immortals than the Titans ), Kronos, fearing that Demeter would one day overpower him, quickly proceeded to swallow her whole as well, to the horror of Rhea.

Demeter, thus, spent her childhood undigested in her father's stomach along with four of her siblings: her older sister, Hestia , her younger sister, Hera , and her younger brothers, Hades and Poseidon , all of whom were also swallowed shortly after their birth. As a result, Kronos became known as "King Cannibal." Rhea pleaded with Kronos to spare their children but with no success. However, Rhea soon gave birth to her final child, Zeus , who she secretly raised on Crete, far away from Mount Othrys . After growing up, Zeus successfully infiltrated Kronos' Palace on Mount Othrys as the Titan King's royal cup bearer. Demeter was finally released during the final drinking competition that Kronos had with his Titanic brothers and nephews. Zeus poured an extremely powerful emetic (made from nectar mixed with mustard) into Kronos' goblet, which caused the Titan King to disgorge all of the contents of his stomach, in reverse order of swallowing: first the boulder, then Poseidon, followed by Hera, Demeter, Hades, and finally Hestia.

Since they were immortal gods, they were unable to die despite being trapped in their father's stomach, and therefore had grown to their maturity undigested. Zeus quickly introduced himself to his elder siblings, and all of them (including Demeter) promptly escaped Mount Othrys, before their Titanic uncles and cousins came to their senses. Shortly thereafter, Demeter and the other gods accepted Zeus as their leader, and reached a unanimous consensus on declaring war against their tyrannical father. Demeter was particularly bitter towards Kronos, and vowed that she would never forgive her father. However, since the Titans were well-armed and the gods still had no weapons, Demeter agreed to help Zeus release their Elder Cyclopes and Hekatonkheire uncles from Tartarus first. Rescuing the Elder Cyclopes and Hekatonkheires Demeter's brother, Hades, was very skilled in navigating under the earth, and therefore was able to lead them all into Tartarus (through a network of Underworld tunnels). There, imprisoned in the maximum-security zone, surrounded by huge bronze walls, and a lava moat, guarded fierce demons, were the Elder Cyclopes and Hekatonkheires .

Their guardian, Kampê , was the most ferocious and fearsome monster in all of Tartarus, and even Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades initially shuddered with horror when they saw the infernal monster for the first time. However, the gods overcame their fear, and were able to sneak in. Zeus managed to talk to the Cyclopes Brontes, and convinced him to forge powerful weapons for him and his siblings behind Kampê's back. The three Elder Cyclopes forged three incredibly powerful weapons: the Master Bolt (for Zeus), the Trident (for Poseidon), and the Helm of Darkness (for Hades). With these new weapons, Zeus killed Kampê, and Poseidon shattered the chains of the Elder Cyclopes and Hekatonkheires, releasing them. Afterwards, Hades safely guided his siblings and uncles back out of Tartarus. In return, for their release, all six of Demeter's uncles agreed to fight on her side in the upcoming war with the Titans.

The First Titanomachy Shortly after their return from Tartarus , Demeter and her siblings officially declared war on Kronos and the other Titans, which resulted in the terrifying 11-year-long Titanomachy. The Elder Cyclopes soon forged a mighty golden sword for Demeter, which she bravely wielded in battle against the Titans. The Titans initially had the upper hand, since they were well-armed and much more experienced warriors. However, as the years of the War passed, the gods quickly became skilled warriors as well, and with the help of their new extremely powerful weapons, as well as the aid of the Elder Cyclopes and Hekatonkheires , the gods finally prevailed. While preparing for the final battle of the War, Demeter and her siblings ascended to Mount Olympus (the tallest mountain in Greece after Mount Orthys ). During the final battle, Zeus used his Master Bolt to shear off the top of Mount Othrys, and hurl Kronos from his Black Throne, defeating the Titan King. Shortly thereafter, the gods invaded the ruins of Mount Orthys, and finally overwhelmed Atlas , Hyperion , Iapetus , Krios , and Koios .

In the aftermath of the battle, the Elder Cyclopes chained up all of the defeated Titans, while the Hekatonkheires forced them to kneel before Zeus , Poseidon , and Hades . Zeus took his father's Scythe, and sliced Kronos into a thousand pieces, before casting him into Tartarus , along with the rest of his followers (except for Atlas , who was forced to hold the Sky). After the War The gods chose Mount Olympus as their official residence, and the Elder Cyclopes build magnificent palaces there for them all. As a result, the gods started to call themselves the Olympians. Shortly thereafter, Demeter's brothers ( Zeus , Poseidon , and Hades ) divided the world between themselves: Hades received the Underworld , Poseidon seized the seas, and Zeus claimed the skies as his domain, becoming the King of Mount Olympus as well as the Olympians. As for Demeter herself, she became the Goddess of Agriculture, Harvest, and Fertility, and would often visit mortals and teach them the necessary skills of agriculture.

She traveled in a golden chariot pulled by twin dragons, and she also carried a gleaming gold sword (which she either used to cut wheat or to fight if need be) at her side. Since her older sister, Hestia , chose to remain an eternal virgin, she was the first goddess who caught the romantic attentions of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, especially since she was beautiful in her own right, kind-hearted, and an excellent cook. However, Demeter turned down all their proposals of marriage, for she preferred to devote herself to her duties as the Goddess of the Harvest and Fertility. She also presided over the foremost of the Mystery Cults, which promised its initiates the path to a blessed afterlife. Relationship with Zeus However, there came a time where Zeus (who had just ended his marriage with the Titaness Themis) was determined to court Demeter. Despite a shape-shifting struggle between the two, Zeus successfully seduced Demeter after transforming into a serpent. They enjoyed a relationship that resulted in Demeter's first child: a very beautiful daughter named Persephone . Though the affair later ended, Demeter was still happy, for she loved her daughter dearly.

Persephone grew up without want, always by the side of her mother, who shared some of her power over the earth with her, and she eventually became the Goddess of Springtime and Flowers. In fact, Demeter loved Persephone so dearly that she viewed her as the light of her life, and took to spending all of her time with her. Relationship with Poseidon A few years after Persephone's birth, Demeter decided to take a vacation to the beach. As she walked along the beach, she was noticed by her brother, Poseidon . The God of the Sea appeared before her, dressed in his best green robes, with a crown of seashells on his head and his trident in his hand, and tried to court her. Spurning his advances, Demeter tried to hide herself among a nearby herd of wild horses by transforming herself into a white mare. However, Poseidon not only possessed the power of shape-shifting as well, but was also "The Father of Horses", and therefore had perfect knowledge of and divine control over them. He quickly transformed into a strong white stallion himself, and galloped after her.

He caught up with the herd, and made the horses part before him and surround Demeter, after which he successfully seduced her. Shortly thereafter, Demeter gave birth to twins: Despoina (a goddess), and Arion (an immortal stallion). Despoina would later become a minor Goddess of Fertility, and looked after Demeter's temples as a high priestess after reaching her maturity. However, her twin brother, Arion, played a far more prominent role in mythology, given how he often come to the aid of demigod heroes (such as Hercules ). Relationship with Iasion Shortly thereafter, Demeter fell head-over-heels in love with Iasion, a handsome and well-mannered mortal Prince of Crete. Iasion had a great respect for agriculture, and always looked out for the local farmers of Crete, which touched Demeter's heart. They enjoyed an intense and passionate love affair which, unfortunately, ended in abrupt tragedy. Upon seeing the mutual love shared between Demeter and Iasion, Zeus was overcome with jealousy, and promptly killed him with a thunderbolt. A devastated Demeter proceeded to lock herself in her Olympian private chambers for months.

By the time that she had chosen to come out again, she had given birth to Ploutos, a minor God of Agricultural Wealth. Ploutos would often travel all over Greece, and would reward the most hard-working farmers with sacks of money. Punishing Erysichthon Erysichthon, an arrogant Prince of Thessaly, intended to build himself a magnificent mansion. However, the only building materials that he deemed fitting were the massive trees from Demeter's sacred grove. While Erysichthon and fifty of his burly friends set out to chop down the trees, Demeter herself appeared before them, in the guise of a maiden. While she tried to reason with them, Erysichthon completely disregarded her advice, and mocked Demeter. However, before he could chop down a single tree, the infuriated goddess removed her disguise, and grew over 100 feet tall. As the Goddess of Harvest and therefore the Mistress of Food, Demeter inflicted Erysichthon with insatiable hunger and thirst. After a couple of weeks, Erysichthon's hunger induced him to exhaust his riches and ever sell his own daughter into slavery.

However, the girl was saved by Poseidon, who took her to Atlantis, and made her his housekeeper. Erysichthon himself finally perished in poverty and excruciating pain. Pandora When Zeus decided to create the irresistible Pandora (in order to punish Epimetheus for his brother Prometheus's actions), Demeter taught the girl how to successfully tend to a garden. Athena's Flute When a proud Athena performed with her newly invented flute before Demeter, Hera, and Aphrodite , the goddesses began giggling and whispering to each other, with Demeter being the one to point out that Athena's facial features comically contort while she plays. An embarrassed Athena fled in humiliation, and hurled the flute off of Olympus, cursing it to give the worst fortune to the next person to play it, which ended up being the satyr Marsyas. Abduction of Persephone Persephone , her daughter While Demeter loved all of her children dearly, Persephone remained her favorite child of all, the one whom she took to spending whatever free time she had with. Due to her great beauty, Persephone was often desired by many gods, but Demeter would would never allow it.

However, Persephone came to be noticed by Hades himself. Although he was distanced from his Olympian family, Hades was lonely and desired a wife to fill the void. After seeing the beautiful young goddess, Hades fell madly in love with her, to the point that, for the first time, he became sloppy in his duties as Lord of the Dead. However, he knew that Persephone's overprotective mother, Demeter, would refuse to even consider the marriage, so decided to speak with her father instead. Zeus sympathized with his lovesick brother, and agreed to help him kidnap Persephone behind Demeter's back. One day, while Demeter was busy, leaving Persephone in the care of her companion nymphs, Hades managed to abduct her. Persephone's terrified scream was only heard by the minor goddess, Hecate . Demeter eventually realised that her beloved daughter was missing, and started an epic tale of searching for her. Her search would have been fruitless, had not Helios (who saw everything due to his being the Titan of the Sun) ultimately told her of what had happened.

As a result of this, a grief-stricken and wrathful Demeter commanded the earth to become barren and infertile until her daughter was returned to her (this in turn induced autumn, and then winter). Upon seeing the starvation and anguish of the mortals due to Demeter's curse on the earth, Zeus was forced to order Hades to return Persephone to her mother. Hades complied with his brother's wish, but before Persephone was taken back up by Hermes (the only god who can go freely to the Underworld), Hades' gardener gave her a pomegranate, and persuaded her to eat six seeds. Hence, Persephone has to stay within the Underworld for six months out of the year. This came at a cost, as Demeter never could accept that her daughter had married Hades, and left her. Demeter's nagging increased with this action, but Persephone got to stay with her husband (with whom she had fallen in love) this way.

Rewarding Triptolemus Triptolemus , a Prince of Eleusis who directed Demeter to Helios (and subsequently, helped her find Persephone), was justly rewarded by the goddess: she gifted him with a beautiful red-and-gold winged chariot (pulled by two pythons), and taught him the arts of agriculture. Afterwards, Demeter sent him on a mission to educate the whole of Greece. When Triptolemus taught Lynkos, King of Scythia (and demigod son of Hades ), the arts of agriculture, Lynkos refused to teach it to his people and then tried to murder Triptolemus. As a result, Demeter turned him into a lynx, and made Triptolemus the immortal God of Farming. The Last Olympian She and Persephone make an appearance in the Underworld as a guest in Hades's realm due to her daughter's presence. She nags Persephone about marrying Hades, displaying a character similar to that of elderly mothers in modern Western pop culture.

She meets Percy Jackson and Nico di Angelo when they go down to talk to Hades before visiting the River Styx , this time curiously displaying no particular affection for either. After Nico convinces Hades to reinforce Olympus at a desperate moment and help his brothers, Zeus and Poseidon with the other Olympian gods, against their Titan father, Kronos, both Demeter and her first daughter joined with him, turning an entire army of giants into a wheat field while in battle and later joining the other gods on Olympus when they reward the heroes after the Battle of Manhattan has ended. The Mark of Athena Demeter, along with most of the other Olympians, was incapacitated (with her personality split between her and her Roman form Ceres ) after Leo was manipulated by Gaea into shooting upon Camp Jupiter from the Argo II . Demeter was mentioned by Jason when her counterpart Ceres was mentioned by Bacchus during his first meeting with the demigods.

The Blood of Olympus When Reyna , with the help of six pegasi finally manages to place the Athena Parthenos on Half-Blood Hill , golden light ripples across the ground, seeping warmth into the bones of both Greek and Roman demigods, and curing all of the Olympians (including Demeter) of their split personalities. As a result, Demeter promptly arrives in Athens to participate in the final battle with the Giants, riding in her golden chariot pulled by fearsome twin dragons. She helps defeat several Giants, after which Hades sends their bodies back to Tartarus by opening up abysses under them right after each Giant is killed. Shortly after the battle, Demeter is seen having what Jason thinks is "an intense discussion" with Hera and Poseidon . She watches as Zeus hurls the Argo II all the way back to Camp Half-Blood . Though she doesn't make a physical appearance in the book, Demeter claims Meg McCaffrey as her daughter. Personality Demeter is somewhat fussy and has overprotective maternal instincts, but seems to be absent-minded, which goes far into explaining how Persephone could have been kidnapped by Hades. In The Hidden Oracle , Apollo says she is warm and loving.

She is also a stereotypical mother-in-law, never missing an opportunity to chastise and criticize Hades' work and marriage to her daughter. Possessing a very caring nature and an obsession for cereal, Demeter insists upon advising eating healthy and hard work as every mother would (as shown when she talks to Nico). While Demeter always rewards everyone who shows her kindness (like Triptolemus and Metanira), she is extremely severe to those who disrespect her (like Erysichthon). Appearance According to Percy Jackson's Greek Gods , Demeter is more beautiful than Hestia , though less so compared to Hera : she had long blond hair the color of ripe wheat, and wore a bright green dress with a dark cape, which gave her the appearance of fresh plant shoots breaking through fertile earth whenever she moved. She also wore a crown of woven corn leaves and adornments of poppies, and had a sweet distinctive scent of a rainstorm over a field of jasmine. Wherever she went, Demeter was said to cut a surprisingly warlike figure, given that she rode a golden chariot pulled by twin dragons, and at her side gleamed a curved Imperial Gold sword.

In Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes , Demeter appears before Psyche wearing green-and-brown robes, a crown of wheat on her head, and her golden sword in her hand. In The Titan's Curse , Demeter was described as a dark-haired woman in green robes. In The Last Olympian , Demeter was described to be an older and sterner version of her daughter Persephone, with the same lustrous black hair and warm brown eyes, and her golden dress being the color of a wheat field. Demeter's hair was woven with dried grasses, and reminded Percy of a wicker basket. In The Blood of Olympus , when Demeter arrives in Athens to help the Seven Heroes of Olympus battle the Giants, she is described as wearing green and gold robes. The differences in Demeter's physical description throughout the novels could be attributed to the fact that, as a goddess, she has the ability to assume any shape she desired, though it must be noted that she retains her stunning beauty and dignity no matter what physical manifestation she adopts.

Abilities As an Elder Olympian, Demeter is an extremely powerful goddess , more so than her older sister, Hestia , but not as powerful as her younger sister, Hera , and her Big Three brothers. Due to her having divine control over agriculture, she could punish those who offend her with famine or hunger. She could also change the climate and state of the earth, due to her being the Goddess of the Seasons. The legendary tale of Hades and Persephone is just one of the numerous instances where Demeter's powers could affect the state of nature itself: when she is with her most beloved daughter, Persephone, the earth is warm and fertile, but when Persephone is away with her husband, Hades, the world is cold, dark, and barren. Height Manipulation: In Percy Jackson's Greek Gods , when infuriated and provoked by Erysichthon, Demeter grows 100 feet tall, taller than the massive trees in her sacred grove. Percy describes her as "Grainzilla" in this state. Chlorokinesis : As the Goddess of Agriculture, Demeter has divine authority and absolute control over plants, crops, and the harvest.

She could either grant or enhance the fertility of the earth, turning barren plains into fertile fields, and encourage orchards to bear fruit and flowers to bloom. Granting Powers: As shown in Percy Jackson's Greek Gods , Demeter was able to grant the gifts of godhood and immortality to whomever she chooses - had it not been for the untimely interference of Metaneira, she would have successfully made Demophoon an immortal god. Later on, she made Triptolemus her immortal lieutenant as the God of Farming. Transfiguration: Demeter is capable of transfiguration, being able to transform multiple things at once, as demonstrated in the Battle of Manhattan , where she transformed numerous Dracaenae into barley. Geokinesis (limited): Demeter could increase the fertility of soil as well as the output of crops. Season Control : As the Goddess of the Seasons Demeter could control the seasons, such as annually transforming spring into winter (when her daughter Persephone is with Hades), and vice versa (when her daughter returns).

Hunger Inducement: According to Percy Jackson's Greek Gods , Demeter cursed Erysichthon to suffer and eventually die an excruciating death from insatiable hunger and thirst. This ability is most probably attributed to her status as the Goddess of Harvest, and hence the Mistress of Food. Swordsmanship: According to Percy Jackson's Greek Gods , Demeter always wore a curved and menacing Imperial Gold sword (forged for her by the Elder Cyclopes) on her belt. While she usually uses it to cut wheat, it was stated that Demeter was also capable of skillfully wielding it in combat against those who anger her. Atmokinesis (limited): As a Goddess of the Seasons, Demeter could control the weather to a certain extent, such as making it rain, or snow, or cause the temperature to change, however she wished it, though her ability to do so is far inferior to that of her brother, Zeus . Shapeshifting : As seen in Percy Jackson's Greek Gods , Demeter is skilled at shapeshifting, though she hardly ever utilizes this ability.

She has transformed into an eagle (while escaping from Kronos ' palace on Mount Othrys ), a bat (while sneaking into Tartarus ' maximum-security zone with her siblings), a snake (while trying to escape from Zeus' advances), a mare (while trying to escape from Poseidon's advances). Control of Animals: Demeter can summon and control animals to an extent, shown in Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes , when she sent numerous ants to help Psyche sort out the grains spilled all over Aphrodite's kitchen. Culinary Arts: In Percy Jackson's Greek Gods , Demeter was said to be an excellent cook, knowing how to bake delicious bread and cookies. Family Demeter briefly appears among the Olympian council when Percy presents the Master Bolt to Zeus. She is portrayed by actor Stefanie von Pfetten . Trivia After Hestia stepped down from the Olympian Council, Demeter is the oldest Olympian to have a throne in Olympus. She is the only Olympain female to have blonde hair ( Apollo is the only hair male Olympain with blonde) Out of her and her sisters (Hestia and Hera), she is the only one to have demigod children.

Ceres, a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt (located between Mars and Jupiter), is named after Demeter's Roman aspect. Demeter is one of the twelve Olympians who doesn't make a major appearance in a book, aside from her minor role in The Last Olympian . However, Demeter does have a much larger role in Percy Jackson's Greek Gods . As shown in Percy Jackson's Greek Gods , Demeter (who was distraught about her daughter, Persephone ), was the only one to touch the food prepared for the Olympians by Tantalus. Hence, Demeter unknowingly ate Pelops' shoulder. However, when Zeus brought him back to life, Hephaestus was able to make a replacement shoulder for Pelops out of ivory. In The Last Olympian, Demeter kept on telling Persephone to eat more cereal, which is named after her Roman counterpart, Ceres . She appears to have chosen her lovers for humorous reasons as both of her known children—Miranda Gardiner and Katie Gardner—both have names that sound like gardener, for she is goddess of nature and farming.

Due to her curved Imperial Gold sword, Demeter is sometimes referred to as 'Demeter Chrysaor .' 1108 Demeter, a main belt asteroid 26km in diameter, is named after her. Hades, her own brother, is also her son-in-law. Some stories say that her weapon was actually molded from Kronos' scythe to her own choice of a weapon. Her Norse equivalent would be Sif . Gallery Demeter - Ancient History Encyclopedia Demeter by Mark Cartwright published on 27 August 2012 One of the oldest Greek gods, Demeter ( Roman name: Ceres) guaranteed the fertility of the earth and protected farming and vegetation. This close connection with the earth was inherited from her mother Rhea, and doubtless she was a reincarnation of local mother-Earth goddesses, commonly worshipped in rural communities. Demeter's Family Daughter of Kronos and Rhea, sister of Zeus , Poseidon , Hades , Hera , and Hestia, Demeter was the mother of Persephone and Iacchus (both with Zeus) and Pluto, the god of wealth (with Iasion, who was subsequently killed by a thunderbolt from a jealous Zeus).

She also adopted Triptolemus, the Eleusinian prince, who gave the human race the gifts of the plough and knowledge of agriculture. Demeter was also pursued by Poseidon and to escape his attentions, she changed into a mare; however, Poseidon too changed into a horse and their resulting offspring was Arion, the winged horse ridden by Hercules . Remove Ads Advertisement Homer in The Iliad describes the goddess as ‘golden-haired’, and Hesiod in his Theogony and Works & Days, describes her as ‘bounteous Demeter’, ‘well-garlanded’, ‘hallowed’, and ‘reverend’. Demeter and Persephone were the subject of a major cult in the ancient Greek world. Demeter & Persephone Demeter and Persephone (also known as Kore in Greek and Proserpina by the Romans) were the subject of a major cult in the ancient Greek world. According to mythology , Hades, god of the underworld, fell in love with Persephone as soon as he saw her and carried her off in his chariot to live with him in Hades.

In some accounts Zeus had given his consent to the abduction, the location of the crime being traditionally placed in either Sicily (famed for its fertility) or Asia. Demeter searched the earth for her lost daughter and though Helios (or Hermes ) told her of her daughter’s fate, she, nevertheless, continued her wanderings until she finally arrived at Eleusis . It was here, disguised as an old woman, that the goddess cared for Demophon (or Triptolemus), the only son of Metaneira, the wife of Keleos, king of Eleusis. To reward the family for their kindness, Demeter set about making Demophon immortal by placing him on a fire every night. However, when Metaneira saw this she raised an alarm. In response, Demeter revealed her true identity and demanded a temple be built in her honour. This was the beginning of the celebrated sanctuary of Eleusis. Once the temple was completed, Demeter withdrew from the world and lived inside it; at the same time she created a great drought to convince the other gods to release Persephone from Hades. As the drought claimed ever more victims, Zeus finally persuaded Hades to release his ill-gotten bride.

Before giving her up though, the wily Hades put a pomegranate kernel in the girl’s mouth, knowing its divine taste would compel her to return to him. In other versions of the myth, Persephone could have been released if she had not eaten anything in the underworld during her captivity, but at the last moment, Hades gave her a pomegranate seed. Finally, as a compromise, it was decided that Persephone would be released but that she would have to return to Hades for one third of the year (or in other accounts one half). Remove Ads Advertisement The story of Demeter and Persephone was perhaps symbolic of the changing seasons and the perennial change from life to death, to life once more, or in other words, the changes from summer to winter and the return of life in spring. The cycle became one of the rituals of the sacred Eleusinian mysteries; indeed the symbols of the cult were ears of corn and a torch - symbolic of Demeter’s search for Persephone and a reminder that the rituals were carried out at night. As all initiates were bound by a sacred oath not to reveal the details of the mysteries, they have to this day remained just that, a mystery.

The most important sanctuary to Demeter, then, was at Eleusis in Attica which had religious origins and monuments dating back to the Mycenaean civilization of the 15th century BCE. Eleusis became a truly pan - Hellenic site under the dictator Peisistratus and continued to be visited in Roman times. From the 8th century BCE there was also a sanctuary and temple to Demeter on Naxos , in the 4th century BCE a temple was constructed in her honour at Dion, and Homer mentions that the goddess had a precinct named after her at Pyrasos. Demeter in Art Demeter rarely appears in art before the 6th century BCE and then she is usually shown with Persephone; often both wear crowns and hold a torch, sceptre or stalks of grain. Demeter is also sometimes present in scenes depicting the birth of Athena .

Question: Who was the Roman counterpart of the Greek goddess Demeter?
Answer: Ceres