Ceres, pictured in the paintings, is a beautiful goddess, with wheat hair, dressed in blue clothes. Sculptures that have survived to this day, introduce the appearance of an impressive and respectable lady who sits on the throne. Homer attributed to her a sword of gold and gave a generous attitude to people.
Who is Ceres?
She is one of the most revered goddesses on Olympus, her name sounds different - Demeter and translates as "Mother Earth". Ceres, goddess of agriculture and fertility, especially revered in ancient Rome. In honor of Ceres in ancient times landowners from Rome arranged lavish festivities, which began on April 12 and lasted a week. The Romans dressed up in white clothes and decorated their heads with wreaths. Following the series of sacrifices, fun entertainments and meals followed.
The goddess of fertility and agriculture in the myths of different nations, has different names.
- Ceres is the goddess of fertility and agriculture in ancient Rome;
- Demeter is the goddess of fertility and farming in ancient Greece;
- Isis - the goddess of fertility and motherhood in ancient Egypt;
- Merena is the goddess of the fertile land and the kingdom of the dead from the Slavs.
Ceres and Proserpine
On the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, for more than 2,000 years, a myth has been spread, about the mother goddess, from the grief of which all nature dies. Ceres is the mother of Proserpine, in Greek mythology she is known as Persephone, and Jupiter (Zeus) is her father. The beautiful Proserpine was abducted by the god of the underworld Pluto (Hades) and forced to become his wife by force. The irresponsible Ceres was looking for her daughter everywhere, and when she found it, she demanded to return it back, but Pluto refused. Then she turned to the gods, but she did not find any support there either; she was distressed and left Olympus.
The goddess of fertility Ceres fell into sorrow, and with her grief the whole nature faded. People dying of hunger began to pray to the gods to have mercy on them. Then Jupiter ordered Hades to return his wife to the earth, and that two-thirds of the year she should be among the people and only the rest of the time in the realm of the dead. The happy Ceres hugged her daughter, and everything around him blossomed and turned green. Since then, every year, when Proserpine leaves the earth, all nature dies before her return.
Neptune and Ceres
Ancient Roman myths tell a beautiful love story of the god of the sea and the goddess of fertility. Neptune , who is Poseidon, with all his heart, fell in love with the beautiful Ceres and helped her to wander around the world and look for the missing daughter. Tired of the perseverance of the young god Ceres decided to hide from him and turned into a mare, but the admirer revealed her deception and turned into a horse.
As a result of this union, the Roman goddess Ceres gave birth to Neptune's son - an enchanted beautiful stallion, whom Arion was called. An extraordinary horse was able to talk, and it was given to the Nereids for education, which taught him to carry Neptune's chariot through the sea that was raging. Hercules became the first owner of Arion, and Adrastus, participating in competitions on this horse, won all the races.
Ceres - interesting facts
The goddess was very beloved and revered by the ancient Romans and Greeks. In her honor for a long time arranged lush festivities, which over time flowed into the feast of the "Light Goddess." Many of the secrets of Ceres and the details of her life are described in myths and legends, they form the basis of real doctrines:
- Christian morality of the Middle Ages, relying on myths, made Ceres the personification of the church. Those who have lost the way of truth, are looking for a goddess armed with the Old and New Testament.
- Ceres is a goddess, revered by everyone and everyone so much that her image was represented as real.
- The Eleusinian mysteries of the Mediterranean on the day of the feast in honor of the goddess (April 12) held initiations.
- In the world of antiquity, Ceres is the highest deity.
- It is believed that this goddess is the keeper of all biological species, without her attention could not remain not one blade of grass.
- Ceres alone, from all the gods of Olympus , has a parallel in the teachings of Tao and in the philosophy of Buddhism.