Demeter

Demeter (Greek: Δήμητρα, Dēmētēr; Latin: Ceres; Hebrew: דמטר, Demeter) is the ancient Greek goddess of the harvest, growth, and fertility, presiding over grains and the cycles of life and death. She is often referred to as the "Mother Earth" and is a central figure in the Eleusinian Mysteries, an ancient Greek religious tradition. Demeter's Roman equivalent is Ceres, from which the English term "cereal" is derived. In Greek mythology, Demeter's daughter Persephone was abducted by Hades, the god of the underworld, leading to the creation of the seasons. Demeter's grief and subsequent joy at Persephone's return symbolize the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, reflecting the agricultural cycles of planting and harvesting. Her worship was widespread in ancient Greece, and she was often depicted with a torch, sheaves of wheat, or a cornucopia, emphasizing her role in nourishing and sustaining life.