Demeter’s response to the abduction of Persephone by Demeter’s
brother Hades, God of the Underworld. This myth became the basis
for the Eleusinian Mysteries, the most sacred and important religious
rituals of ancient Greece for over two thousand years.^2 This worship
was brought to an end in the fifth century A.D, by the destruction of
the sanctuary at Eleusus by the invading Goths.
THE ABDUCTION OF PERSEPHONE
Persephone was gathering flowers in a meadow with her compan-
ions, and was attracted to an astonishingly beautiful narcissus. As
she reached out to pick it, the ground split open before her. From
deep within the earth, Hades emerged in his gold chariot pulled by
black horses, grabbed her, and plunged back through the abyss just
as swiftly as he had come. Persephone struggled and screamed for
help from Zeus, but no help came.
Demeter heard the echoes of Persephone’s cries and rushed to
find her. She searched for nine days and nine nights for her abducted
daughter, over the entire land and sea. She did not stop to eat, sleep,
or bathe in her frantic search.
(Another myth adds that when Demeter was fruitlessly searching
for her abducted daughter, she was seen and desired by Poseidon
[Neptune], god of the sea, who pursued her. She tried to avoid him
by changing herself into a mare and mingling with a herd of horses.
Poseidon, not fooled by this disguise, turned himself into a stallion,
found her in the midst of the herd, and raped her.)
At dawn on the tenth day, Demeter met Hecate, Goddess of the
Dark Moon and of the Crossroads, who suggested that they go to-
gether to Helios, God of the Sun (a nature deity who shared this title
with Apollo). Helios told them that Hades had kidnapped
Persephone and taken her to the underworld to be his unwilling
bride. Furthermore, he said that the abduction and rape of
Persephone had been sanctioned by Zeus. He told Demeter to stop
weeping and accept what had happened; Hades was after all “not
an unworthy son-in-law.”
Demeter refused his advice. She now felt outrage and betrayal by
Zeus, as well as grief. She withdrew from Mt.
Demeter: Goddess of Grain, Nurturer and Mother