Ceres and Proserpine

Ceres

Proserpine

Title: the Earth goddess

Greek name: Demeter

Relations: Mother of Proserpine

English word: breakfast cereal

Title: goddess of the Underworld

Greek name: Persephone

Relations:

Daughter of Ceres
Wife of Pluto

Ceres was the Earth goddess and goddess of corn. She carried the cornucopia, a horn full of vegetables and fruit. Her daughter was Proserpine.

Pluto fell in love with Proserpine, and carried her off to the Underworld. Ceres searched everywhere, but couldn't find her. Eventually Ceres refused to let the plants grow any more, and everyone begun to die of hunger. So Pluto admitted he had Proserpine, but said she could only go back home if she had eaten none of the food of the Dead. Proserpine had eaten almost nothing, as she was so sad at being kept underground, but she had eaten six seeds from a pomergranate. This means that she could go home, but had to return to her husband for six months every year. When this happens, Ceres stops everything growing, and winter comes.