Demeter: The goddess of agriculture

Demeter was the daughter of Chronus and Rhea.  She was the goddess of agriculture and taught men how to seed and harvest the fields. This is why she was also considered a patron of family. She had many children with many consorts but the most notable was Persephone, her daughter with Zeus. The most notable myth about Demeter revolves around to her love for Persephone.

According to the myth Hades had great desire for Persephone. Giving-in to his lust he abducted her and brought her with him in the underworld to be his wife. Once Demeter realized that her daughter had been missing, she went looking for her. She aimlessly wondered on earth for nine days full of sadness and despair until she reached Eleysina. Taking the form of an old woman she approached King Keleos, who welcomed her as a guest not knowing who she was.

During her stay there she was assigned the upbringing of the king’s son Demophon. Fond of the young prince Demeter fed him ambrosia in order to grant him immortality. However when Demeter started to burn his body to complete his transition to godhood, Metaneira his mother started screaming not knowing who the old woman really was. 
Demeter offended stopped the process and Demophon remained a mortal. She however taught them the craft of agriculture in return for their hospitality.

In the mean time her anxiety resulted in all land to become barren and no seed would grow on earth. Zeus ordered Demeter to restore fertility on earth. In exchange he demanded Hades to allow Persephone to return back to Demeter nine months every year and keep her in the underworld the remaining three years. Hades accepted the offer the earth blossomed again. This is also the beginning of the four seasons.

More Gods

The worship of Apollo is the most widely diffused. His birth was adventurous as his mother, Leto, was chased by the serpent Python (Hera's intrigue); he grew up miraculously fast (in seven months he assumed the appearance of a grown man)

Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera and one of the Twelve Olympian Gods. His birthplace and true home was placed far away, among the barbarous and hostile Thracians.

Artemis is special among the other goddesses of Olympus. She was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and twin sister to Apollo.

Athena was the daughter of Zeus and Metis, the Titan and goddess of cunningness and wisdom. According to the myth Zeus received a prophecy that one of his off springs would bring the end to his reign.


Atlas was a Titan, the son of Iapetus and Asia. He was well-known to everyone because his task was no less than to support the sky and the heavens over the earth.