di•mE'tur

Greek chthonian goddess of agriculture. She was the daughter of the Titans Kronos and Rhea and sister to Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Hestia and Pluto. She is the protector of marriage and the social order, identified by the Romans with Ceres.

Demeter presided over the Eleusinian mysteries and was celebrated by Homer with "To Demeter" (see the Homeric Hymns). Her name means 'grain mother' or 'mother earth' and to this end she was often associated with Gaea. A number of ethnic titles were assigned to her, the most important being Amphiktyonis, as patron goddess of the Amphictyonic League, subsequently well known in connection with the temple at Delphi.

The goddess is represented on E2 as well.




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Greek and Roman Mythology

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