Demeter presides over grains and the fertility of the earth. She is also called Deo In Greek tradition, Demeter is the second child of the Titans Rhea and Cronus, and sister to Hestia, Hera, Hades, Poseidon and Zeus. Like her other siblings but Zeus, she was swallowed by her father as an infant, and rescued by Zeus.

By her brother Zeus she became the mother of Persephone, a goddess of fertility. One of the most notable Homeric Hymns, the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, tells the story of Persephone's abduction by Hades and Demeter's search for her. When Hades, the king of the Underworld wished to make Persephone his wife, he abducted her from a field while she was picking flowers, with Zeus' leave. Demeter searched everywhere in order to find her missing daughter to no avail, until she was informed that Hades had taken her to the Underworld. In response, Demeter neglected her duties as goddess of agriculture, plunging the earth into a deadly famine, where nothing would grow, causing mortals to die. Zeus, to avert the disaster, ordered Hades to return Persephone to her mother. Because Persephone had eaten food from the Underworld, she could not stay with Demeter forever, but had to divide the year between her mother and her husband, explaining the seasonal cycle, as Demeter does not let plants grow while Persephone is gone.

Demeter, as the goddess of agriculture, played a crucial role in ancient Greek mythology. Her influence extended beyond the harvest, touching upon life cycles, the changing of seasons, and the balance between life and death. Her importance was underscored by the Eleusinian Mysteries, ancient religious rites held annually in her honor and her daughter Persephone's. These rites were considered among the most important in ancient Greece, and their secrets were closely guarded.

Symbols and Representation of Demeter

Demeter is often depicted in ancient Greek art as a mature woman, usually bearing a torch, a sheaf of wheat, or a cornucopia - the horn of plenty. These symbols represent her dominion over the earth's bounty. The torch signifies her relentless search for Persephone, while the sheaf of wheat and the cornucopia symbolize the fertility and abundance that she bestows upon the earth.