Genealogy of Demeter
Daughter of Cronus and Rhea
- sister of Zeus
Who is Demeter the mother of?
Persephone
Historical origins of Demeter
De- “Wheat”
Meter - “mother”
What is Demeter’s roman name?
CERES
- hence “Cereal” because grain
Etymology of Persephone’s name
Epithets
Unknown;
Epithets: “Kore” (daughter or girl)
Roman name for Persephone
Proserpina
Divine functions and Powers of Persephone
Fertility of Crops
Persephone and Demeter together are referred to as:
The two Demeters
or
the two goddesses
Rape definition (classical greek definition compared to today)
Rape in archaic sense of “seizure” or “abduction”
Who abducts persephone?
Hades
Who condones the abduction of Persephone?
Zeus
Who sees the abduction of Persephone?
Helius and Hecate
How does Demeter deal with her daughter’s disappearance?
9 days of fasting, no bathing, torches at night to search
Demeter @ Eleusis: what is demeter disguised as when she takes refuge?
An old woman
Demeter @ Eleusis: where does Demeter take refuge?
Celeus’ palace near the maiden well
Demeter @ Eleusis: who does Demeter become a nurse to?
Celeus and Metaeira’s Son
- cheers him up with IAMBE
- “Demophoon”
Demeter @ Eleusis: Iambe definition
Lascivious jokes -
cf. iambic poetry
Demeter @ Eleusis: What does Demeter drink instead of wine?
Concoction of Barley and Mint
- KYKEON
Demeter @ Eleusis: What does Demeter feed Demophoon?
Nectar and Ambrosia
Demeter @ Eleusis: what is burned away at night in Demophoon?
Demophoon’s mortal parts; However, she is caught in the act and revealed as a goddess.
Demands temple in her honour
Demeter @ Eleusis: what temple was brought up with Demeter’s demands?
the Eleusinian Temple complex
Homeric Hymn to Demeter: Demeter withdraws due to Persephone
Famine comes upon the land
Homeric Hymn to Demeter: Zeus intervenes
- sends the gods to fetch demeter and to bring fertility back
- Hermes is sent to Hades to try and convince him to give back persephone
Homeric Hymn to Demeter: Hades Relents
- He says okay but secretly makes Persephone eat pomegranate seeds
- she is no longer innocent
Homeric Hymn to Demeter: Since Persephone ate the pomegranate seeds, what happens?
1/3 of year she will be in Hades
- relates to Adonis and the life cycle of plants
Eleusinian Mysteries established: What happens after Demeter restores fertility?
She establishes a mystery cult; secret initiation; promise of HAPPY AFTERLIFe
Eleusinian Mysteries established: Triptolemus; who was is?
Messenger of Demeter; pass on agricultural wisdom; merges with Demophoon
- Judge of Dead in Plato’s story
Interpretation of Homeric Hymn: Agricultural allegory?
Hades = earth
Persephone = seed grain
- However does not work with winter wheat vs. kore returning in spring time
Interpretation of homeric Hymn: Structuralist interpretation
Great Goddess and Dying Lover - mother and daughter relationship
Ritualist interpretation of Homeric Hymn to Demeter:
Rite of passage for young girl
- Kore (daughter/girl)
- Parthenos (virgin)
Cf. Arranged Marriage and condoning of abduction
Ritualist Interpretation of homeric Hymn to Demeter:
Symbolic gesture behind pomegranate seeds
symbol of sexual union
The Eleusinian Mysteries:
Mystery Religion
- open to all people but have to be initiated
- provides etiology for word mystery
Greek word:
“Myo”
“To squint”
Greek word:
“Mystai”
“squinters”
or
“Initiates”
The Sanctuary of Demeter @ Eleusius:
The Telesterion, what was it?
The Hall of Initiation
The Sanctuary of Demeter @ Eleusius:
The Hierophant
The revealer of sacred things
- things said, things shown, things done
- Hiera = sexual intercourse
- Hiera = male and female genitialia
Kykeon definition
barley-meal, mint, and water
The Sanctuary of Demeter @ Eleusius:
3 stages of initiation
lesser mysteries - preliminary initiation
greater mysteries - full initiation
epopteia - the beholding