The separation and reunification would bring about the growing seasons, for when together crops would grow, but when Persephone was in the Underworld, ground would be left fallow.ĭemeter was no different from any other deity of the Greek pantheon, being quick to anger and display her wrath, but also quick to display favour when there was call. Some say it was Zeus who had enticed Hades to abduct Persephone, but now Zeus had to bargain with his brother, and as a result it was decided that for one third of the year Persephone would stay with Hades in the Underworld, and for the rest of the year, Demeter would be reunited with her daughter. Thus for nine days Demeter searched the earth for Persephone, and whilst she did so, Demeter neglected her role as Goddess of Agriculture, and crops failed, with famine enveloping the whole world.Įventually, Helios, the sun god who sees all, told Demeter about the abduction of Persephone by Hades, but this information alone did not allow for mother and daughter to be reunited, and eventually Zeus had to intervene for the whole world was crying out. Some sources also name the Athenian youth Mecon as a lover of Demeter Mecon was subsequently transformed into a poppy plant by the goddess.ĭemeter soon noticed the absence of her daughter, but no one could explain what had happened to Persephone. Nevertheless, two sons were born to Demeter, Plutus, the god of agricultural wealth, and Philomelus, the inventor of the wagon and ploughing.Ī second mortal lover of Demeter was Carmanor, King of Tarra upon Crete, and by him Demeter bore Euboulos, Greek god of the ploughed earth, and Chrysothemis, a Greek goddess of the harvest festival. The relationship was brief, for when Zeus discovered the tryst, he killed Iasion with a thunderbolt in a pique of jealousy. Demeter would have a brief relationship with Iasion during the festivities surrounding the wedding of Cadmus and Harmonia upon Samothrace. The first of these was Iasion, a prince of Arcadia and brother of Dardanus. This relationship brought forth Arion, an immortal horse owned at one time by Heracles and Adrastus, and Despoina, a goddess of the Arcadian mysteries.ĭemeter also had mortal lovers. Demeter would attempt to escape by transforming herself into a horse, but Poseidon then transformed himself into a stallion to mate with Demeter. Poseidon would force himself upon his sister. Zeus would ultimately emerge as the supreme deity after the Titanomachy, and would make his sister Demeter one of the first six Olympian deities and the roles previously undertaken by the Titan gods and goddess were then divided amongst the new generation.Īn important aspect of any Greek deity was their partners and offspring, and as might be expected Demeter had a number of lovers and children.Īmongst the most famous lovers of Demeter were Zeus and Poseidon and the union of Demeter and Zeuswould produce the goddess Persephone, and in some ancient sources it would also produce the first incarnation of the god Dionysus. The insurrection would result in a ten year war, the Titanomachy, although it is generally said that Demeter did not fight during the war, but was instead given over to the protection of Oceanus and Tethys for the duration of the conflict. Cronus was afraid of a prophecy which stated that he would be overthrown by his own child, and so Demeter was joined in her prison by Hades, Poseidon, Hestia and Hera.ĭemeter’s brother, Zeus, would escape this fate and would lead an insurrection against his father, having first released his siblings from the imprisonment, by forcing Cronusto regurgitate them. This made Demeter sister to Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hestia and Hera.ĭemeter though had no childhood for when Rhea gave birth to her, Cronus immediately swallowed Demeter, imprisoning his daughter within his stomach. The goddess Demeter was born during the period known as the Golden Age of Greek mythology, the time when Cronus and the Titans ruled the cosmos indeed, Demeter was the daughter of Cronus and Rhea.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |