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Demeter

Agriculture

Domains:

Olympian - Theoi Georgikoi

Category:

5E Alignment:

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5E Domains:

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5E Symbol:

Greek Name

Transliteration

Latin Spelling

Translation

Δημητηρ

Dêmêtêr

Demeter

Ceres

DEMETER was the Olympian goddess of agriculture, grain and bread who sustained mankind with the earth's rich bounty. She presided over the foremost of the Mystery Cults which promised its intiates the path to a blessed afterlife in the realm of Elysium. Demeter was depicted as a mature woman, often wearing a crown and bearing sheafs of wheat or a cornucopia (horn of plenty), and a torch.


Myths


Some of the more famous myths featuring the goddess include:


  • The abduction of her daughter Persephone by Hades, and the great dearth she brought down upon the earth.

  • The nursing of Demophoon, the young son of King Keleus (Celeus) of Eleusis.

  • The journeys of Triptolemos, a hero sent by the goddess to instruct mankind in agriculture.

  • Her assault by Poseidon who forcefully coupled with her in the form of a horse.

  • The punishment of Erysikhthon (Erysichthon) who was cursed with an unquenchable hunger by the goddess for cutting down her holy grove.


These and many other myths are detailed over on the Theoi Project page.

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