The Story of Demeter
Demeter was a daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. Like most of her brothers and sisters, she was swallowed by her father as soon as she was born, and she remained trapped inside him until Zeus forced Cronus to set his children free.
After the Olympians defeated the Titans, Demeter took charge of the fruitful earth. She became the goddess of grain, the harvest and farming, and the Greeks believed it was by her will that crops grew and fields gave food. Without her blessing, there would be no bread on any table.
Demeter had a daughter, Persephone, whose father was Zeus. Mother and daughter were extremely close, and Persephone spent her days picking flowers in the meadows. Demeter also loved the mortal Iasion, and from their union came Plutus, the god of wealth and abundance.
Everything changed when Hades, with the secret approval of Zeus, carried Persephone down to the underworld. Demeter searched the world for her daughter, and in her grief she let the fields wither until people began to starve. Zeus finally ordered Persephone's return, but because she had eaten pomegranate seeds below, she had to spend part of every year with Hades. Each time she leaves, Demeter mourns and winter comes; each time she returns, spring returns with her.
During her wanderings, Demeter came to Eleusis disguised as an old woman, and the royal family took her in. When she revealed her true form, she asked them to build her a temple. Later she taught the young prince Triptolemus how to grow grain and sent him across the world to share the gift of farming.
Demeter's most sacred site was Eleusis, near Athens, home of the Eleusinian Mysteries. For nearly two thousand years, people came from all over the Greek world to take part in these secret rites, and those who joined were sworn never to reveal what they saw. Women also honored her and Persephone at the Thesmophoria, a festival celebrated in many Greek cities.
Demeter remains one of the most loved figures in Greek mythology, a mother whose grief explains the turning of the seasons. The Romans called her Ceres, which gives us the word cereal. Her story still speaks to anyone who has known the pain of separation and the joy of reunion.
Famous Myths About Demeter
The Search for Persephone
When Hades carried off her daughter Persephone, Demeter wandered the earth for nine days with torches in her hands. She learned from Helios, who sees everything, that Zeus had allowed the abduction.
The Barren Earth
In her grief and anger, Demeter refused to let anything grow, and humanity faced starvation. Zeus finally agreed to return Persephone, but because she had eaten pomegranate seeds in the Underworld, she had to spend part of each year there, and Demeter's sorrow during those months brings winter.
The Nurse at Eleusis
Disguised as an old woman, Demeter became the nurse of a baby prince at Eleusis and secretly began making him immortal by holding him in the fire each night. When his mother saw this and screamed, Demeter revealed herself and ordered a temple to be built, where her Mysteries were later held.
The Gift of Agriculture
Demeter taught the Eleusinian prince Triptolemus the art of growing grain. She gave him a chariot drawn by winged serpents so he could fly across the world and share farming with all of humankind.
Where to See Demeter in Greece
Demeter's Family Tree
Frequently Asked Questions About Demeter
Who is Demeter in Greek mythology?
Demeter is the Olympian goddess of the harvest, agriculture, grain and fertility. She was also at the center of the Eleusinian Mysteries.
Who are Demeter's parents?
Demeter is a daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and a sister of Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades and Hestia.
Who is Demeter's daughter?
Demeter's daughter is Persephone, whose father is Zeus. Hades carried Persephone off to the underworld to be his queen.
How does Demeter explain the seasons?
When Persephone was taken, Demeter grieved and the earth stopped growing. Because Persephone had eaten pomegranate seeds in the underworld, she must spend part of each year there, and Demeter's sorrow during that time brings winter.
What are Demeter's symbols?
Demeter's symbols include the sheaf of wheat, the torch, the cornucopia and the poppy.
What is Demeter's Roman name?
The Romans called Demeter Ceres, which gives us the word cereal.
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