What is the difference between demeter and ceres

King Claudius and Lady Macbeth are also very good at disguising their deceit. In Hamlet, only Hamlet himself is aware of the true nature of Claudius. All others, including his Wife and subjects, think he is a wonderful and innocent King. Greek Mythology and Religion Mythology is the study and interpretation of myth and the body of myths of a particular culture.

Myth is a complex cultural phenomenon that can be approached from a number of viewpoints. In general, myth is a narrative that describes and portrays in symbolic language the origin of the basic elements and assumptions of a culture. Mythic narrative relates, for example, how the world began, how humans and animals were created, and how certain customs, gestures, or forms of human activities originated.

Almost all cultures possess or at one time possessed and lived in terms of myths. Open Document. Essay Sample Check Writing Quality. The Greeks and Romans are two groups of people that were closely associated with each other. They both used legends of gods and mighty beings to explain the mysteries of the universe. A myth that has strong significance to both of them is the rape of Persephone or Prosperine as she was known to the Romans. The myths, while both referring to the same event, occur differently, over different periods of time and have slightly different outcomes.

Other characters that interact with the key characters such as Aphrodite Venus and Eros Cupid are only in one version of the myth. In both versions of the myth, Persephone is taken by Hades for different reasons and she is returned to Demeter for only parts of the year. Demeter is told who kidnapped her daughter by different people in both myths and different people explain to her why Hades is a fit husband and son-in-law.

While both versions of the myth bear similarities, there are significant differences that make the myths stand apart. There are many similarities between both versions of the rape of Persephone.

Jupiter and the other gods tried to get her to change her mind but she was adamant. Jupiter eventually realized that he had to get Proserpine back from the underworld, and sent for her. Unfortunately, Pluto secretly gave her food before she left, and once one had eaten in the underworld one could not forever leave. Proserpine was therefore forced to return to the underworld for four months every year.

She comes out in spring and spends the time until autumn with Ceres, but has to go back to the underworld in the winter. Her parting from Ceres every fall is why plants lose their leaves, seeds lie dormant under the ground, and nothing grows until spring when Proserpine is reunited with her mother.

The queen is shaken by the sight and strongly protests. Not knowing the divine origin of the unknown old woman, she gets really angry with her behavior and begins to fire threats in a very ugly way. Demeter, after the reactions of the queen, is furious and decides to reveal her identity. She does not accept any compromise and shows, from now on, the path and destiny of Demophon.

Moreover, she requires the construction of a large temple with an altar in her honor, which will be built in accordance with her wishes under the walls of the city on the hill near the Kallichoro well. Finally, she announces the presence of certain feasts in her honor, so in the future, her worship would be established in their places.

Demeter does these statements, takes her true form, stands up and leaves. The queen, as the surrounding crowd, are stunned and bewildered. The little boy perhaps realizing the substantial loss of his nanny starts crying inconsolably. The realization of the wishes of the goddess is now a primary concern of the royal family.

The next morning, king Keleos is informed and gathers all the people to announce his intentions. Without losing any time, he commands the building of the, dedicated to the goddess Demeter, temple and asks for the soonest possible completion. Demeter, frustrated and desperate, shuts herself in the newly built temple and refuses to return to Olympus.

Incensed by the calamities which have found her and from the adverse situations she experienced and continue experiencing, sends to the whole world the greatest misfortune that could ever come. She causes the seeds to stay hidden in the ground and makes the land barren and unable to germinate.

Zeus watching that humanity would soon disappear, is forced to raise and take action. He sends primarily the graceful Iris at Eleusis to convince Demeter to return to Olympus, but in vain. The goddess was determined to not change attitude and behavior, and sends Iris back idly.

She also sends back all other gods who went with their gifts to visit and try to persuade her. The father of the gods, watching his efforts end in vain, confronts a real impasse. Hades farewell to Persephone, while offering her to eat a sweet pomegranate seed - Art Picture by Jynette Tigner Hades farewell to Persephone, while offering her to eat a sweet pomegranate seed - Art Picture by Jynette Tigner.

Unable to think of anything else that could bring positive effect, he decides to personally mediate. He sends Hermes Roman equivalent is Mercury to Hades Roman equivalent is Pluto and manages to convince him to set Persephone free and allow her to return to her mother.

Hades obeys the words of his younger brother and agrees to release his beautiful wife, but did not disclose his sincere intentions. Saying goodbye to Persephone, the ruthless god of the Underworld, offers her to eat a sweet pomegranate seed, so that she will not ever want to return permanently to the mother.

After the farewell, Hermes gets her beautiful daughter, readies his chariot and goes to her mother at Eleusis. Demeter, facing her beloved lost daughter, falls in her arms overflowing with joy.

She can't believe the arrival of her daughter, as she can't imagine a fair deal between the two brothers. Knowing Hades obsession and conscious of selfishness and stubbornness that distinguishes him, asks her daughter if her brother, before leaving her, gave her anything to eat. Persephone, innocent as she was, describes in detail to her mother the incident with the pomegranate. Demeter, sadly understands the importance of the event and says to her daughter that from now on, it is required to stay one third of the time near her husband and the remaining two-thirds with her mother.

The result, although it is not the best expected, is not dissatisfying for mother and daughter. Being so happy, to be with each other after so much adventure and suffering, they accept, in the mean time, the visit of Rhea at the request of Zeus.

The mother of the gods, being happy and satisfied with the final reunion, is proposing as her son's mediator, the return of the two Demeter and Persephone to Olympus. Nobody denies this compromise.

Demeter accepts the call and hears the request of Zeus to put an end to the calamities that she sent. Upon their return everything is done as before and nature is in full bloom and bears fruits. Demeter, happy again, will not only stand to the level of nature and fertility, but also undertakes to teach kings sacred ceremonies and to introduce them to the mystery cults.

All pictures are also uploaded in Albums on the Greek Mythology Pantheon page on Facebook, visit us at :. Very nicely written and nicely illustrated. So while often forgotten about these days in her time she was extremely important. Back then, the outcome of the harvest successfull or not was defining if the people of a certain area would starve or not.

I enjoyed this article very much and learning about this wonderful goddess, Demeter, and understanding more about Greek Mythology, which I love. Thank you! It was published on 28 May This information really help me understand the life of A Godess Demeter Thank you for this. This was awesome! It just so happens my brother took the test and found his Greek God was Hades! Who is Demeter my brother as well! The mother must allow and let go of daughter.

Seems like a good compromise. I work with mother daughter. This is my name Dimitra I found out my mother got my name from her. This means so much for years I knew my name ment the great goddesses of the harvest, but this article opened a whole new world.

Being an African American women it was so hard to for people to understand my name even me I used a nickname for years thank you for helping me embrace my name? Very well done! This was great for my research project.

Hades the world's worst son-in-law Erysichthon Ascalaphus Ascalabus different guy, both turned into animals by yours truly Minthe. Single Encounters with Zeus , Poseidon , Iasion. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. Parents Home Homeschool College Resources. Study Guide. Previous Next.