![]() “For Triptolemos Demeter prepared a chariot of winged dragons, and she gave him wheat, which he scattered all over the populated earth as he was carried along through the sky.”Ī Mother’s Loss: Demeter and Persephone The Daydream of Demeter, by Hans Zatzka, 1859-1945, via the Art Renewal Centerĭemeter’s myths have a sense of familiarity to them for many people. To show her appreciation for his hospitality, she taught him how to work the land. Here, she was greeted and comforted by the kind-hearted Triptolemos, a young prince. Demeter was traveling in the guise of an old woman, her grief represented by her aging and weak form. When Demeter was grieving the loss of her daughter, she wandered around Greece from town to town in search of her. “She was the first to cut straw and holy sheaves of corn-ears and put in oxen to tread them, what time Triptolemos was taught the good craft.” ( Callimachus, Hymn 6 to Demeter) Demeter gifted Triptolemos with her knowledge so that he could impart it to his fellow humans. The beginning of humankind’s adventures in gardening and agriculture began with Demeter’s favorite hero: Triptolemos. Her attributes are a plentiful cornucopia, sheaves of wheat, and a torch. Teaching Humans: Triptolemos & Demeter’s Favor Stacking Hay, by Julien Dupre, c.1851-1910, via Meisterdrucke Collectionĭemeter is often depicted in art as a mature woman, and her myths illustrate her as a maternal and generous goddess. Her Roman name was Ceres, which is where we get the word “cereal” from. She taught humans how to plant, plow, and nurture the earth to provide food. Demeter became the goddess of agriculture. Soon after this, the gods received their titles. The age of the Titans was over, and the age of the gods began. It is notable that the agreement about Persephone’s future was created between Zeus and Hades, and neither mother nor daughter were asked.Together, Demeter and her siblings overthrew Kronos, and Zeus was established as the new leader of the immortals. Manipulation – which his presents arguably were too – could have skewed her. His purposes, whilst not trying to harm her, are selfish in trying to keep her. However, although he is very kind to her, showering her with gifts and affection, there is something malevolent in the deceit of the pomegranate seeds. But did Hades have ill intentions for her? Perhaps it’s a testament to his love that he was, in fact, blinded by it, and didn’t understand how else to get to her. It was probably partly because of Demeter’s extreme protectiveness of Persephone (which might have been why she was partly happy to leave). Hades, instead of approaching Persephone, seemed to think it was necessary to swallow her into the world of the dead, having loved her from a distance for a long time. ![]() On the one hand, Hades did essentially stalk her, kidnap her, then trick her (and I’ll talk about whether Stockholm syndrome was the nature of their relationship) – but in some ways, unlikely as it sounds, Hades was a rather kind, good husband. And it’s even arguable that Hades and Persephone had a true romance – a rarity in the world of the Roman gods. Upon closer study, it’s still disturbing – but more interesting. This myth seems, on first glance, disturbing.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |