"In agricultural communities woman was often clothed in an extraordinary prestige...In a mystical sense the earth belonged to the women; they had a hold, at once religious and legal, upon the land and all its fruits..."
Simone de Beauvoir
Name meanings: meter= mother and de= delta, or triangle which is a female genital sign known as “the letter of the vulva” in the Greek sacred alphabet. This translated as meaning Earth Mother. Her temples sometimes had triangular doorways to represent the passage way into the womb of the Goddess. Also this “delta mother” is considered a trinity like many other early Goddesses. Virgin-Mother-Crone and Creator-Preserver-Destroyer.
Mythology: One of the 12 Greek Olympians known as the “Earth Mother Goddess”. Her Roman counterpart is Ceres. Parents are Cronus and Rhea. Siblings are Hera, Hestia, Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon. Daughter ( from Zeus) Pershephone who was originally called Kore meaning “maiden”. The most common Demeter myths is that of the abduction of Persephone by Hades into the Underworld Through this myth Demeter shows her Triple Goddess form with Persephone as her virgin daughter. This myth also illustrates the powerful influence Demeter has and as a creator and preserver she cares for the Earth but she becomes the destroyer on her quest to get her daughter back. Thus creating the cycle seasons- birth, life, death, regeneration.
Herstory: Demeter is the premiere harvest Goddess and is represented often by grains: barley, wheat, and corn. Her cult was already established in Greece in the 13th century BCE and her temple at Eleusis was one of the greatest shrines . It became the center for the infamous Eleusinian mysteries who’s focus was that of regeneration and rebirth. Demeter was worshiped by Greek peasants up to the 19th century at Eleusis ( although the temple had long been destroyed by monks) and they gave her the title “Mistress of Earth and Sea”. She was often represented by corn and the last harvest for the season was called “The Demeter”, “Corn Mother”, or “Old Woman”.
Holidays: September 23 ( the Autumn equinox) through October 1. Persephone/Kore’s holiday is the Spring equinox.
Correspondences: Days- wednesday and friday. Element- earth. Plants- all cultivated plants especially grains; pomegranate ( for Kore), pennyroyal, corn, and poppy. Gem- emerald. Colours= all earthen colours. Number- 3. Animal-lion and woman.
Persephone holding a pomegranate.
References:The Women's encyclopedia of myths and secrets, Walker. The Witches Goddess, Farrars.
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© 1997 Rhianna~