Greek Mythology: Demeter Essay

Submitted By Amira-Carter-Perkins
Words: 510
Pages: 3

Amira Carter-Perkins
Mr. Barnes
English 1 Acc.
Due: May 27, 2014
Greek Mythology: Demeter
A myth is traditional or legendary story, one that includes epic heroes and gods and explains a cultural practice or phenomenon. Many of the gods or goddesses in these stories have special gifts that make us comfortable in what we know and believe in. One of these goddesses is in fact Demeter, Goddess of Bountiful Harvest.
Demeter is the mother of Persephone, maiden of spring, and the maid of Zeus, King of the Gods. She is responsible for fertilizing the Earth, which is how the harvest is so abundant. She is the most nurturing of all of the goddesses. Demeter is also known for the grief she has when her only child Persephone was taken by Hades, King of the Underworld. She symbolizes suffering and endurance in the case of her daughter being abducted.
Demeter went into a spiraling depression after her daughter was kidnapped by Hades. He took her one afternoon while she was picking a flower and made her his queen. Demeter rushed out into the garden to find daughter missing; that’s when her journey for Persephone’s return began. Demeter went through a lot in her search for her beloved daughter. She was taken advantage of by Poseidon, King of the Sea. She healed an elderly man’s son. She even turned a man into a lizard for being rude to her; but nothing fogged her view of saving Persephone. Along the way she was extremely surprised when she found out that Persephone’s father, Zeus, gave his blessing to this obscene crime Hades had committed. Confused and angry, Demeter froze the land and killed all the crops. She stood her ground and refused to come back until Persephone was in her arms again. Zeus finally gave in and sent Hermes, the Messenger God, to retrieve his daughter. Before she left, he husband Hades offered her a pomegranate to eat. She