Homeric Hymn to Demeter
Homer began his song revealing to his audience that Hades had permission from Zeus to abduct Persephone, daughter of Zeus and Demeter. One day, a glorious narcissus sent by Earth to lure Persephone to her abduction while she was playing and gathering flowers with the daughters of Oceanus. With curiosity Persephone reached for the flower; and at once, Hades sprang from the earth and grabbed her into his car pulled by deathless horses. She cried out for help but not a single soul heard her pleads, except the sun god Helius and Hecate. Meanwhile, Zeus was hiding in his temple to receive offerings from the mortal and to avoid the cries of his daughter. At last, Demeter heard her cries as she wept in torments and wandered about for nine days to look for Persephone. Finally, Hecate suggested that Demeter seek out Helius for the identity of Persephone's abductor. Helius informed her that Hades had permission from Zeus to take Persephone as his wife in the underworld and that Demeter should give up her anguish. The weeping goddess disguised herself as an old woman, until at last she came to Eleusis and rested at the Well of the Maiden. There, the four daughters of Celeus who came to fetch water from the well saw the old woman.
According to the Greek myths of fertility, Demeter and Persephone closely represent the female power and the fertility of the world. Thus, marriage is an experience that brings an end to their childhood, and for many the end to their lives. The myth incorporates many elements to account for the cycle of life and death as an important aspect in the lives of its ancient audience. In this case, the goddess Demeter who can cause the crops to grow from the soil represents the concept of women having the capability to reproduce. Further, upon seeing the daughters of queen Metaneira so lovely and joyful, reminds Demeter of Persephone; thus, the goddess "sat there in silence, her heart tormented with sorrow, speaking no word to a soul, displaying no recognition, unsmiling, tasting no crumb of bread and sipping no goblet, wasting away in longing to regain her slim-waisted daughter. She consented that Persephone thereafter would spend one third of the year in the underworld as wife of Hades and the rest of the time with her. One of the most famous religious cults of the ancient world is the Eleusinian Mysteries established by the goddess Demeter. Furthermore, marriage associates with death for women because many died from childbirth and enormous pollution, which is also known as miasma. " At once, the villagers of Eleusis built the temple according to the goddess' instructions and the Eleusinian Mysteries are founded. The ancient accounts seems to disregard the true facts of Greek agriculture in wheat, for the return of Persephone is during the springtime and the wheat crop is sowed during summertime, sprouts in the autumn and throughout the wintertime. Those who are initiated into the cults were blessed with hope for a better, pleasurable existence in the after death. Demeter grieves as she sets out to look for Persephone and ignores any consoles from other gods. The goddess revealed herself and directed them to build a place to honor her: [246] ". The myth also incorporates that Persephone descent to the underworld is her death and the end of fertility on earth because her mother Demeter forbids the growth of crops.
Common topics in this essay:
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Moreover Persephone,
Lord Death,
Powell Hades,
Eleusis Demeter,
Demophon Demeter,
Persephone Demeter,
Persephone Zeus,
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pomegranate seed,
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upper world,
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life death life,
persephone wife underworld,
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