Demeter and Persephone

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Demeter and Persephone

• When Hades abducts her daughter, Demeter (the
  goddess of agriculture) makes the earth turn cold
  and barren, until Persephone returns from the
  underworld each spring.

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DEMETER

• In Greek mythology, the goddess of
  agriculture, of harvest, and of grain a type of
  the earth goddess and the mother goddess. Her
  roman cognate is CERES, the roman goddess of
  grain, from whose name we derive the word
  cereal.

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Persephone

• The daughter of Zeus and Demeter the Maiden
  of Spring. Her Roman cognate is Proserpina.

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HADES

• The Greek god of the underworld, who rules
  over the abode of the dead. His Roman cognate is
  PLUTO, also known as DIS

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Myths try to explain the world

• Example Why do we have the seasons?
• According to Greek mythology, the goddess
  responsible for the earths bounty was Demeter.
  Her sweet daughter Persephone gladdened Demeters
  heart, and Demeters love and happiness kept the
  earth in bloom.

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• For an entire year Demeter refused to allow
  the earth to bloom when Persephone was stolen
  from her. All over the world people starved.

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• Concerned that the mortals would all die out,
  leaving no one to worship them, the other gods
  begged Zeus to talk to Demeter and recall her to
  her duties.

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Zeus Pity

• Zeus took pity on the mother and daughter. Since
  Persephone had only eaten one seed, and had done
  so unwillingly , he decreed that she would not
  have to stay in the underworld for an entire
  year.

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• Instead , she would stay there for only half
  of each year, and then in the other half of the
  year she would be allowed to return to her
  mother.

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• Each year, during the months when Persephone
  returns to her, Demeter makes the earth green and
  blesses the harvest.

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• But during the months when Persephone has to
  stay in the underworld, Demeter mourns, and in
  her grief and loneliness she makes the earth turn
  barren and cold.

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• Thus the seasons are explained.

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The Primary Olympian Gods
GREEK ROMAN ATTRIBUTES
Zeus Jupiter King of the gods. His domain is the sky, his weapon the thunderbolt
Hera Juno Sister and wife of Zeus
Poseidon Neptune Brother of Zeus and Hades, god of the sea
Hades Pluto/Dis Brother of Zeus and Poseidon, god of the Underworld
Apollo Apollo Son of Zeus and Leto. Archer god, concerned with law, poetry , music
Artemis Diana Twin sister of Apollo, an eternally virgin huntress
Athena Minerva Daughter of Zeus, virgin goddess, patron of Athens
Aphrodite Venus Goddess of love. Sometimes the daughter of Zeus and Dione
Demeter Ceres Goddess of corn, agriculture
Hermes Mercury Son of Zeus and Maia, divine messenger, god of thieves trickery
Ares Mars The god of war