Demeter

Statue of Demeter

Demeter, the Olympian goddess of the harvest and agriculture, presiding over crops, grains, food, and the fertility of the earth, in the Greek religion.

Quotes about Demeter

• And Rhea spoke, the Goddess with the soft veil, to Demetra: | "O daughter, come: Jupiter, lord of thunder, is calling thee, | so that thou mayest come among the gods: grant thee honours, he promises. [...] | Persuade yourself, daughter, nor harbor too much indignation | against the son of Cronus, lord of the clouds, and the fruit | Immediately it causes to sprout that keeps mortals alive in life." | He said so; nor was the Goddess of the vague garlands reluctant. | Immediately the fruits sprang from the fertile clods, | And the whole land was covered with flowers and foliage. | And to the sovereign law-givers, before she departed, | to Diocles, of master horses, to Trittòlemo, to Eumòlpo, | to the gallant leader of the people Celèo, she was a teacher | of the venerable rites, he taught everyone to celebrate | pure orgies: it is not permitted to transgress or spy on them, | Nor do you make any chatter: let the voice refrain from the Divas. | Among mortal men, blessed is he who comes to see them; | but he who remained profane, he who did not depart, did not rejoice | the same fate, after death, in the damp darkness. || Now, after she had all disposed herself, the Diva, to Olympus | Again he ascended, among the assembly of the other Immortals. | And here, near Jupiter, lord of lightning, they are | Blessed and honored. Happy above all, the earthling | that these Goddesses of heart diligon: for they send swiftly | to his opulent house, that he may sit on his hearth, | Pluto, who gives great riches to mortal men. (Homer)

Sources

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• Smith, Tyler Jo; Plantzos, Dimitris (18 June 2018). A Companion to Greek Art. Wiley Blackwell. ISBN 978-1-4051-8604-9.
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• Stalmith A.B, The name of Demeter Thesmophoros in GRBS48 (2008) p. 115-131
• Strabo, The Geography of Strabo. Edition by H.L. Jones. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
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• Dalby, Andrew (2005), The Story of Bacchus, London: British Museum Press, ISBN 0-7141-2255-6
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• J. Paul Getty Museum (1983). Greek Vases in the J. Paul Getty Museum. Vol. 1. Malibu, California: Getty Publications. ISBN 0-89236-058-5. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.

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