1. Myths of Fertility and the Underworld

2. Inanna and Dumuzi n Mesopotamian goddess of fertility n Represents sexuality and fertility of earth and all living things including humans n Mother Earth / Goddess myths common in agricultural societies.

3. Isis and Osiris n Osiris is the giver of laws and civilization n Isis gives life, and teaches people agriculture and domestic tasks n Osiris buried away. n Isis searches for him n When found Osiris is torn apart and reassembled n Osiris comes back from the dead to impregnate Isis

4. Cybele and Attis n Goddess of hunting and fertility n Cybele - Agdestis - Attis n All men around her end up castrated n Her priests (Galli) were castrated n An orgiastic cult which shocked Romans, but found plentiful followers

5. Aphrodite and Adonis n A primarily hellenistic myth, modelled on the oriental mother goddess myths. n Handsome Adonis is killed accidentally and Aphrodite mourns him n The death of Adonis celebrated by women.

6. Demeter and Persephone n A more sophisticated version of the Goddess / Dead Lover motif n Persephone ends up spending time in the underworld as the queen of the dead n Wife of Pluto/Hades

7. Eleusis, The Telesterion