All people are addicted to something and interested in something. The object of passion for many people is Greek culture with all its gods and goddesses. It is quite difficult to understand all the intricacies of the Greek pantheon of gods at once. It is better to do it gradually. Goddess Demeter is where to start.
Pedigree
At the very beginning, it is worth noting that Demeter is the daughter of Rhea and Kronos, the sister of the almighty god Zeus and the goddess Hera, which puts her on a par with the most powerful and influential gods of Olympus.
Purpose
The goddess Demeter in Greek mythology is considered the patroness of farmers, the mother of the fertility of the earth. According to legend, thanks to her and her daughter Persephone, the seasons change - only part of the year mother and daughter can spend together, then summer comes on earth. All other times, Persephone lives in a dungeon with her husband Hades, and at this time Demeter yearns and cries for her daughter, giving birth to rains, blizzards and bad weather. And only when the hour of the meeting is approaching, a thaw sets in, Demeter has hope for a quick meeting and spring comes.
Image
Goddess Demeter is very attractive, and her image is warm and pleasant. So, her hair is ears of ripe wheat, her face is sweet, and her body is magnificent, rich. At one time, it was precisely such women that attracted men, so Demeter was always desired by the opposite sex. The character of the goddess is kind, she is calm and balanced, but with a painful sense of justice. She often severely punished people who tried to deceive her or others like her.
Art
The Goddess Demeter was sung by many poets, a huge number of legends and paintings were written about her. Often she was depicted as a wandering woman in search of her daughter, sometimes sitting, surrounded by the fruits of the earth. Her main attributes are ears of corn, symbols of fertility, and a torch as a symbol of the search for her lost daughter. The goddess of fertility Demeter considered the Snake and the Pig to be her sacred animals.
Legacy
All the gods had their followers - dedicated people. So, the origin of the name Dmitry is interesting, which stands for “dedicated to Demeter”, “one who worships Demeter, the goddess of fertility.”
Celebrations
Demeter is a goddess from the category of "first", "big" goddesses who are at the head of Olympus. That is why the people found a reason to honor Demeter on earth, creating a mother cult dedicated to her. Initiated women often reproduced in special mysteries the grief, the longing of mother Demeter for her daughter. It was not so easy to become a participant in this rite. Requiredpre-fast, physically and spiritually cleanse. Further, those who were admitted to the mysteries drank a special drink - kykeon - and were admitted to the temple. What happened behind the doors of the temple always remained a secret, the disclosure of which was punishable by death. That is why little is known about these sacraments. But scientists suggest that the composition of the drink included some psychotropic substances that changed the consciousness of each person, allowing you to fully surrender to what is happening both in soul and body. Those who went through the mysteries were considered initiated into the mysteries of life and death and were in good standing with society. An interesting fact is that slaves were also allowed to participate in the mysteries.
