All about history book of myths and legends. ( PDFDrive )

The Greeks had many goddesses who played

a variety of roles in their mythology. Some

were primal, shadowy figures, such as Gaia

(Mother Earth), who existed before most

other deities, and Rhea, often seen as a

Titaness, who was the mother of many of the

Olympians. Others ruled over different aspects

of the daily life of the people. Like most

ancient cultures, the Greeks sought to explain

natural phenomena by attributing them to the

activities of the gods. Greek myths typically

ascribe human emotions to their deities,

hence there are numerous stories featuring

the loves and rivalries of the Greek goddesses.

The Greek Goddesses

CLASSICAL EUROPE

DEMETER AND PERSEPHONE

Persephone was the only daughter of Demeter, the goddess

of the Earth, grain, and fertility. Hades, the ruler of the

Underworld, fell in love with Persephone, but knew that

Demeter would not part with her because she helped her

mother in making the plants grow and the crops ripen. So,

one day, when Demeter’s attention was elsewhere, Hades

snatched Persephone while she was playing with her

companions, and dragged her down with him to the

Underworld. Demeter was enraged and distraught. She

went on a long search for her daughter, during

which time all the crops withered and died.

Zeus realized that if this state was

allowed to continue, life on Earth

would perish, since Demeter was

also responsible for the cycle of the

seasons. Finally, he persuaded Hades

to agree to a compromise, whereby

Persephone would be allowed to live

on Earth with Demeter in spring and

summer, but would have to spend the rest of

the year with Hades. Accordingly, the land

prospers whenever Persephone visits

her mother, but becomes infertile when

she goes back to the Underworld

during autumn and winter.

Demeter in mourning

While Demeter mourned the loss of her daughter, she

neglected her duties as the goddess of vegetation and

fruitfulness. Consequently, the Earth became barren

and life itself was threatened.

The gift of corn

The ancient Greeks believed that

Demeter taught the art of cultivation

to humans. Her most cherished gift

was the crop of corn.

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