Greek Goddess Demeter

Even though sometimes we are not really interested in the Ancient Greek Culture, it was actually the biggest contribution to our society nowadays. The Greeks didn’t just gave us a draining system and a government, but an ideal and way of life. Sometimes I ask to myself: What would have happened if we wouldn’t have all this culture and past that creates our present? What if we weren’t now Mexicans? What if we were all Spaniards or German? There’s a reason for every single day, time and moment… I want to believe.

          

          That is what leads us to think about: what is beyond us? Greeks were polytheists (they believed in many Gods and Goddesses). They had a God or Goddess for every territory and part of their daily life. These astonishing creatures were given human characteristics, so they would be more believable and suitable at the same time.

          But from all of these Gods, I was especially intrigued about Demeter: this beautiful, loving and caring Goddess. She was the Goddess of fertility as well as the Goddess of the bountiful harvest. Some primary sources reveal us that the people, especially the farmers were thankful for Demeter’s gift for them: harvest and fertile soil. Agriculture was their day-to-day basis in their common life.

          Some oral traditions which were passed from generation to generation, tell us that Demeter knew the suffering and grief herself. For she had experienced both of this human feelings, herself with the story of her daughter Persephone. Demeter was the daughter of the Titans Chronus and Rhea. Demeter’s siblings were Poseidon, Zeus, Hades, Hestia and Hera. She married her brother, Zeus and Persephone was born. Persephone grew up and she became into a beautiful woman. With soft skin, red lips, beautiful hair, exceptional hips, tiny waist and a perfect face. Hades (Demeter’s brother), fell in love with Persephone. He asked for Zeus’ permission to marry her, and so it was. Persephone was abducted into the underworld, then. Demeter was devastated. She shows to be this kind of woman who is protective and a fierce, loving, caring mother. She gave the Earth a curse: No harvest, crops dying, no food: autumn and winter. But Hades was good to her and Persephone was restored to her mother twice a year. In reward, Demeter gave the Earth the gift of harvest and fertile soil: spring and summer.

           It is absolutely amazing how the Greek culture gave their citizens a way of thinking and of life. I am just a 16 year old girl, nothing more than that, but I really wish that there were, someday, more young people interested in our past world. I know it might seem to be a foolish thing, but I really hope it comes true.