Demeter
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The Goddess Demeter bearing wheat and poppy bulbs, with snakes entwined, as depicted in this reproduction of a terra-cotta bas relief from Greece, 5th century BCE.
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[The myths of Demeter and Proserpina pre-date the Greek pantheon, originating from the Pelasgian period of Crete and Troy.] In ancient Greek religion and myth, Demeter (/diˈmiːtər/; Attic Δημήτηρ Dēmētēr. Doric Δαμάτηρ Dāmātēr) is the goddess of the harvest, who presided over grains and the fertility of the earth. Her cult titles include Sito (σίτος: wheat) as the giver of food...[1] and Thesmophoros (θεσμός, thesmos: divine order, unwritten law) as a mark of the... existence of [civilized] society.[2]. .
According to the Athenian rhetorician Isocrates, Demeter's greatest gifts to humankind were agriculture... and the Mysteries which give the initiate higher hopes in this life and the afterlife.[13] ...In Homer's Odyssey she is the blond-haired goddess who separates the chaff from the grain.[14] In Hesiod, prayers to Zeus-Chthonios (chthonic Zeus) and Demeter help the crops grow full and strong.[15] Demeter's emblem is the poppy, a bright red flower that grows [wild] among the [grain.] [16] [Her sacred animal: the serpent.]
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"To Demeter Eleusinia. O universal mother, Deo famed, august, the source of wealth, and various named: great nurse, all-bounteous, blessed and divine, who joyest in peace; to nourish corn is thine. Goddess of seed, of fruits abundant, fair, harvest and threshing are thy constant care. Lovely delightful queen, by all desired, who dwellest in Eleusis' holy vales retired. Nurse of all mortals, who benignant mind first ploughing oxen to the yoke confined; and gave to men what nature's wants require, with plenteous means of bliss, which all desire. In verdure flourishing, in glory bright, assessor of great Bromios [Dionysos] bearing light: rejoicing in the reapers' sickles, kind, whose nature lucid, earthly, pure, we find. Prolific, venerable, nurse divine, thy daughter loving, holy Koure [Persephone]. A car with Drakones (Dragon-Serpents) yoked 'tis thine to guide, and, orgies singing, round thy throne to ride. 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, and join with these a needful store of wealth."
-Orphic Hymn 40 to Demeter (trans. Taylor) (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.) :
www.theoi.com/Olympios/Demeter.html
Demeter
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The Goddess Demeter bearing wheat and poppy bulbs, with snakes entwined, as depicted in this reproduction of a terra-cotta bas relief from Greece, 5th century BCE.
*
[The myths of Demeter and Proserpina pre-date the Greek pantheon, originating from the Pelasgian period of Crete and Troy.] In ancient Greek religion and myth, Demeter (/diˈmiːtər/; Attic Δημήτηρ Dēmētēr. Doric Δαμάτηρ Dāmātēr) is the goddess of the harvest, who presided over grains and the fertility of the earth. Her cult titles include Sito (σίτος: wheat) as the giver of food...[1] and Thesmophoros (θεσμός, thesmos: divine order, unwritten law) as a mark of the... existence of [civilized] society.[2]. .
According to the Athenian rhetorician Isocrates, Demeter's greatest gifts to humankind were agriculture... and the Mysteries which give the initiate higher hopes in this life and the afterlife.[13] ...In Homer's Odyssey she is the blond-haired goddess who separates the chaff from the grain.[14] In Hesiod, prayers to Zeus-Chthonios (chthonic Zeus) and Demeter help the crops grow full and strong.[15] Demeter's emblem is the poppy, a bright red flower that grows [wild] among the [grain.] [16] [Her sacred animal: the serpent.]
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"To Demeter Eleusinia. O universal mother, Deo famed, august, the source of wealth, and various named: great nurse, all-bounteous, blessed and divine, who joyest in peace; to nourish corn is thine. Goddess of seed, of fruits abundant, fair, harvest and threshing are thy constant care. Lovely delightful queen, by all desired, who dwellest in Eleusis' holy vales retired. Nurse of all mortals, who benignant mind first ploughing oxen to the yoke confined; and gave to men what nature's wants require, with plenteous means of bliss, which all desire. In verdure flourishing, in glory bright, assessor of great Bromios [Dionysos] bearing light: rejoicing in the reapers' sickles, kind, whose nature lucid, earthly, pure, we find. Prolific, venerable, nurse divine, thy daughter loving, holy Koure [Persephone]. A car with Drakones (Dragon-Serpents) yoked 'tis thine to guide, and, orgies singing, round thy throne to ride. 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, and join with these a needful store of wealth."
-Orphic Hymn 40 to Demeter (trans. Taylor) (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.) :
www.theoi.com/Olympios/Demeter.html