Demeter-Goddess of Corn and Cultivation

Demeter was one of the most important deities to the Greeks.  She was one of the original 12 Olympians, sister of Zeus.  She made sure the earth was fruitful and looked over the growing crops.

Demeter Mythology

Most of the stories about Demeter are centered around the myth involving her search for and reunion with her daughter, Persephone.  

Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter.  One day while she was collecting flowers with friends the ground suddenly opened up.  Hades, ruler of the Underworld and Persephone's own uncle emerged and grabbed the young girl.  Persephone cried out but only three deities heard her: Hecate, the goddess of the dark side of the moon, Helios the sun god who saw everything, and her mother who raced to help her child-but it was too late. 

Demeter wrapped herself in a black veil and cloak and roamed the earth looking for Persephone.  She searched for 9 days, carrying torches until she consulted with her other daughter, Hecate who admitted to her mother that she had heard her sister's cries but did not know who had her.  Together, Demeter and Hecate talked to Helios who blamed Zeus, who he said had awarded Persephone to Hades.

Infuriated that Zeus was involved, Demeter left Mount Olympus and transformed into an old woman who wandered the earth despairing over the loss of her child.  She found herself near the city of Eleusis, in Attica, which was ruled by the wise King Celeus.  Demeter stopped by the maiden's well.  As she sat there the king approached and felt bad for her and invited her to the palace.  At the palace nothing cheered Demeter.  As time went on and nothing seemed to improve her mood Demeter was given a special drink of water, barlet, and mint.  It worked! For the first time since Persephone's abduction the goddess smiled.  The queen, like everyone else thought Demeter was just a lonely old woman and offered her a position as nurse to the infant prince, Demophon.  

Demeter, to repay the kindness she had been shown decided to make Demophon immortal.  Over several nights she performed the secret ritual until one night the queen interrupted her.  Demeter angered by this interruption resumed her goddess form and ordered the people to build a great shrine to her in the city.  When the temple was complete she moved into it and stayed there for a year, refusing to return to her home at Mount Olympus.  During her time in the temple she neglected all of her duties, and as a result the entire earth grew barren.  People everywhere were starving. 

Because of Demeter's failure to produce crops, Zeus feared that mankind would cease to exist.  He sent everyone he could think of to try and persuade her to return to her duties but she refused until Persephone was returned to her.  Finally Zeus caved in realizing there was no hope and ordered Hades to return Persephone to her mother.  Hades agreed but but before he would allow her to leave he tricked her in to eating a few pomegranate seeds.  Since she had eaten in the underworld Persephone would be bound to stay there forever and remain Hades wife.


Zeus however thought of a compromise.  Since Persephone had only eaten four seeds, he decided that she should stay in the underworld four months out of the year and spend the other 8 in the land of the living with her mother.  The comings and goings of the daughter, along with the reactions of the mother are reflected in the changing of the seasons.