Demeter

Goddess of Crops and the Harvest

Demeter was the Greek goddess of grain, farming and the crops people depended on for food. She was one of the children of Cronus and Rhea and a sister of Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades and Hestia. Her daughter Persephone was the most important person in her life. Because farming was essential for survival, Demeter was not a small countryside goddess. If grain did not grow, people did not eat. Wheat, baskets of crops and torches were often connected with her. The Romans later called her Ceres, which is where our word ‘cereal’ comes from. So technically, Demeter is hiding in your breakfast!

Demeter’s most famous story begins when Persephone is gathering flowers. Hades suddenly carries her away into the Underworld. Demeter hears her daughter cry out but does not know where she has gone. She searches for nine days, carrying torches, until Helios finally tells her the truth. Demeter is furious and heartbroken. She leaves the other gods and eventually reaches a place called Eleusis while disguised as an old woman. Most importantly, she stops the crops from growing. Seeds fail, fields become empty and humans face starvation. Zeus sends messages asking Demeter to stop, but she refuses to let the Earth grow again until Persephone is returned.

Hermes finally brings Persephone back from the Underworld, but she has eaten pomegranate seeds there. This means she cannot remain with Demeter all year. Mother and daughter are reunited for part of the year, while Persephone spends the rest below as queen beside Hades. Their story became closely connected with the cycle of plants disappearing and growing again. Demeter and Persephone were also honoured in secret ceremonies called the Eleusinian Mysteries. We do not know exactly what happened because the people taking part promised not to tell. I think Demeter’s story is incredibly easy to understand. She loves her daughter so much that even Zeus cannot simply order her to forget what happened. When Demeter refuses to grow the food, the whole world has to listen.

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