The Symbolism Of Demeter's Role In Greek Mythology

Before the reward there must be labor. You plant before you reap joy (Ransom).” This quote symbolizes Demeter’s life as goddess of the harvest. Demeter provided a great deal to Greek mythology through her anger and compassion of being a caring mother. Her origins, myths about her life, as well as symbols and representations of her, all make up Demeter’s reputation. One important part of this Greek goddess is her interesting beginnings. All of the gods and goddesses are all in some way related to the Titans. The Titans were giants that ruled the cosmos before the Olympians gods came to power. The ruler of the titans was named Cronus. His wife was named Rhea, who was also his sister. Together they had Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon,
She had a daughter with her brother, Zeus. Demeter named her Persephone. Hades, god of the underworld, abducted Persephone and forced her to be his wife. The time that Demeter spent looking and weeping for her daughter is now known as winter. Hades agreed to let Demeter see Persephone for a few months each year. The spring symbolizes Persephone’s return to her mother. While Demeter searched for her daughter, Poseidon, god of the sea, lusted after Demeter. He tried to impress her by creating the horse. In an attempt to fool Poseidon, she changed into a mare and hid with the other horses. However, she was not able to trick him. Instead, he turned into a stallion and took advantage of her thus creating the goddess Despoina and the horse Areion, their children. Demeter’s life was hard living without her daughter. As the goddess of the harvest, there are multiple symbols that represent her. Symbols for the Greek goddess Demeter include the cornucopia, wheat ears, and a winged serpent (Adams). However, she is most commonly pictured with wheat. In Roman Mythology, Ceres represents Demeter and is known as her counterpart. Ceres was known as the Earth Goddess and her siblings included Jupiter, Pluto, Neptune, Vesta and Juno which are the equivalents to Demeter’s brothers and sisters. Demeter’s representations and symbols of her were large in