CLA204H5 Chapter 10: Classical Mythology Reading Notes Chapter 10
Document Summary
Gaea, mother earth came after sexless chaos and from gaea came the world: first sky, sea and mountains and the olympians and humans. Greeks associated fertility of the soil, reproduction in animals, attraction (sexual) between men and women were attributed to divine female beings. Demeter- goddess of grain and rich harvest. Homeric hymn of demeter and persephon was probably composed in 7th century bc. Persephon has no clear meaning and so she is often called kor daughter or girl who is parthenos: unmarried virgin. Many regard the goddesses as 2 aspects of a single figure- two demeters or two goddesses the permanently fertile earth and seasonal giver of grain. Hades abducted persephon (daughter of demeter and zeus) carried her away as his bride. Demeter enraged, refused to allow the grain to grow until a compromise was reached by which persephon spends 1/3rd of the year in hades" home and 2/3rds with her mother.
