Hymn to Demeter Flashcards
Summary of the Hymn to Demeter
When picking flowers, Persephone is kidnapped by her uncle Hades, who had permission from her father, Zeus.
Demeter is struck with grief due to not knowing where her daughter is. Demeter then goes to Eleusis, where she works for the family as a nanny. She tries to dip Demophon in fire to make him immortal, but his mother stops her. She tells them to build an altar for her. Demeter then makes the year bitter due to missing her daughter leading to Zeus intervening. Hermes is sent to tell Hades the news that Persephone needs to go visit her mother. Persephone will eat the pomegranate seeds Hades gave her making her having to stay half-year with Hades and the other half with her mother. They reunite and her happy together.
Who is Persephone?
Usually known as KORE, “Girl”, because it’s bad luck to say her name
Daughter of Demeter and Zeus, goddess
Queen of the Underworld
Raped/kidnapped by her uncle, Hades
Who is Demophon?
Son of Keleus and Metaneira
Demeter dips him in fire to make him immortal
Bur Mataneira interrupts the process, so he is not immortal
Who is Triptolemus?
Brother of Demophon
Demeter revealed to her sacred rites about farming, harvest
What are the Eleusinian Mysteries?
Rituals honoring Demeter and Persephone
They laster 10 days
Included: a procession from Athens to Eleusis, with a stop at temple of Asclepius, god of healing
Shouting obscenities in honor of Iambe
Night-long vigils
A special drink, maybe hallucinogenic
A re-enactment of the Demeter/ Persephone myth
A display of secret objects
Sacrifice, dancing
All reconstructions are highly speculative, because participants were sworn to secrecy
What meaning does the Eleusinian Mysteries have?
Death and rebirth of nature, the cycles of the agricultural year
Death of an old self, birth of a new life (with more wealth, Ploutos)
Death and rebirth in human spirit
Who is Iambe?
Cheers up the grieving Demeter with dirty jokes
