Rivera 1
Alexandra Rivera
Mr. Mock
Adv. Lit Comp
17 November 2017
Demeter Goddess of Agriculture and Fertility
Eons ago, the Earth lived each of its days with unceasing good weather and harvest. This was made possible by the goddess Demeter, who left the world in a perpetual bloom for all to enjoy. The goddess of agriculture and grain knew true happiness along with her daughter Persephone but despite this, Demeter's life was full of trials and tribulations ever since she was born yet her life is as important as it is interesting. Knowing this, let us delve into the story of one of the greatest of the Greek deities as told by the Ancient Greeks themselves.
Demeter was the daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, along with her siblings Hestia, Hades, Hera, Poseidon, and Zeus, the Olympian Gods. It had been prognosticated that Cronus would be overthrown by one of his children, and it had come to his attention. In an effort to avert his fate, Cronus consumed each one of his children as they were born. Rhea, his wife, was disgusted by his acts, so when the last child was born she wrapped a large stone in the blankets, handing it to Cronus to devour. Before he realized, Rhea fled to Crete with the child, Zeus, and once he grew up, Rhea convinced Cronus to swallow an emetic, which is a substance that causes vomiting, triggering him to regurgitate the rest of Zeus' siblings, and together they executed battle against the Titans, eventually coming out victorious.
Demeter's attributes were associated chiefly with her character as goddess of agriculture and vegetation. The pig was her favorite animal and as a chthonian deity she was also
Rivera 2
accompanied by a snake. This goddess is also referred to as the Grain Mother, but she is not only limited to grain, for she is also open to extended vegetation and all fruits on Earth. Agrarian Festivals are held in honor of Demeter and started in Athens, ending in Eleusis.
Demeter is most known for the myth surrounding the kidnap of her daughter Persephone, who...
