C E R E S
:: goddess of agriculture, grain, and the love a mother bears for her child in Roman mythology ::
:: goddess of agriculture, grain, and the love a mother bears for her child in Roman mythology ::
Summary:: -- Ceres was the Roman goddess of agriculture, grain, and the love a mother bears for her child.
She was the daughter of Saturn and Ops, the sister of Jupiter, and the mother of Proserpina. Ceres was a kind
and benevolent goddess to the Romans. She was beloved for her service to mankind in giving them the gift of the harvest,
the reward for cultivation of the soil. Ceres was the only one of the gods who was involved on a day-to-day basis in the
lives of the common folk. Ceres was worshipped at her temple on the Aventine Hill, one of the Seven Hills of
ancient Rome. Her festival, the Cerealia, was celebrated on April 19. Ceres is portrayed holding a scepter or farming
tool in one hand and a basket of flowers, fruits, or grain in the other. She may also be wearing a garland made from
ears of corn. The Romans explained the turning of the seasons with the following story:
Ceres was the sister of Jupiter, and Proserpina was their daughter. Proserpina was kidnapped by Pluto, god
of the underworld, to be his bride. By the time Ceres followed her daughter, she was gone into the earth. Making
matters worse, Ceres learned that Pluto had been given Jupiter's approval to be the husband of his daughter. Ceres
was so angry that she went to live in the world of men, disguised as an old woman, and stopped all the plants and
crops from growing, causing a famine. Jupiter and the other gods tried to get her to change her mind but she was
adamant. Jupiter eventually realized that he had to get Proserpina back from the underworld, and sent for her.
Unfortunately, Pluto secretly gave her food before she left, and once one had eaten in the underworld one could not
forever leave. Proserpina was therefore forced to return to the underworld for four months every year. She comes out
in spring and spends the time until autumn with Ceres, but has to go back to the underworld in the winter. Her parting
from Ceres every fall is why plants lose their leaves, seeds lie dormant under the ground, and nothing grows until spring
when Proserpina is reunited with her mother.
She was the daughter of Saturn and Ops, the sister of Jupiter, and the mother of Proserpina. Ceres was a kind
and benevolent goddess to the Romans. She was beloved for her service to mankind in giving them the gift of the harvest,
the reward for cultivation of the soil. Ceres was the only one of the gods who was involved on a day-to-day basis in the
lives of the common folk. Ceres was worshipped at her temple on the Aventine Hill, one of the Seven Hills of
ancient Rome. Her festival, the Cerealia, was celebrated on April 19. Ceres is portrayed holding a scepter or farming
tool in one hand and a basket of flowers, fruits, or grain in the other. She may also be wearing a garland made from
ears of corn. The Romans explained the turning of the seasons with the following story:
Ceres was the sister of Jupiter, and Proserpina was their daughter. Proserpina was kidnapped by Pluto, god
of the underworld, to be his bride. By the time Ceres followed her daughter, she was gone into the earth. Making
matters worse, Ceres learned that Pluto had been given Jupiter's approval to be the husband of his daughter. Ceres
was so angry that she went to live in the world of men, disguised as an old woman, and stopped all the plants and
crops from growing, causing a famine. Jupiter and the other gods tried to get her to change her mind but she was
adamant. Jupiter eventually realized that he had to get Proserpina back from the underworld, and sent for her.
Unfortunately, Pluto secretly gave her food before she left, and once one had eaten in the underworld one could not
forever leave. Proserpina was therefore forced to return to the underworld for four months every year. She comes out
in spring and spends the time until autumn with Ceres, but has to go back to the underworld in the winter. Her parting
from Ceres every fall is why plants lose their leaves, seeds lie dormant under the ground, and nothing grows until spring
when Proserpina is reunited with her mother.
:: Traits of her children ::
⇛ Children of Ceres are first and foremost, parental figures in their circle of friends. They love to take care of others and form strong bonds with people.
⇛ Children of Ceres, along with their parental gift, also take on the condescending and controlling attributes most parents tend to take hold of. They often feel that others are not suited for caring for themselves properly.
⇛ Children of Ceres are like the children of Proserpina, where they are happiest in spring/summer months and experience sadness and touchy moods in the fall/winter months.
⇛ Children of Ceres tend to be the all around good person. Miss/Mr. America. They care for the environment, the people, the world! If they could, they would be in every activist and clean up group the Earth has to offer.
⇛ Children of Ceres, along with their parental gift, also take on the condescending and controlling attributes most parents tend to take hold of. They often feel that others are not suited for caring for themselves properly.
⇛ Children of Ceres are like the children of Proserpina, where they are happiest in spring/summer months and experience sadness and touchy moods in the fall/winter months.
⇛ Children of Ceres tend to be the all around good person. Miss/Mr. America. They care for the environment, the people, the world! If they could, they would be in every activist and clean up group the Earth has to offer.
:: Basic powers of her children ::
⇛ Children of Ceres have the ability to communicate and call upon snakes and other reptiles to aid them in battle.
⇛ Children of Ceres can create and manipulate any and all vegetation at will. They are the strongest at this in the spring/summer months.
⇛ Children of Ceres are virtually immune to all toxins and poisons known to the world. They can, however ingest a poison and let it seep through their skin; in turn, giving them the power to use the toxin in battle. It can be either transmitted by touch, or by weapon.
⇛ Children of Ceres are able to go an incredibly long time without eating or drinking. The time frame ranges between two weeks to two months.
⇛ Children of Ceres can create and manipulate any and all vegetation at will. They are the strongest at this in the spring/summer months.
⇛ Children of Ceres are virtually immune to all toxins and poisons known to the world. They can, however ingest a poison and let it seep through their skin; in turn, giving them the power to use the toxin in battle. It can be either transmitted by touch, or by weapon.
⇛ Children of Ceres are able to go an incredibly long time without eating or drinking. The time frame ranges between two weeks to two months.
