The 2 Great Gods of the Earth Demeter & Dionysus

Why were they “Gods of the Earth”? Lived on Earth among their people instead of on Mount Olympus Controlled the crops they grew – grain/grapes. Festivals were held for them in spring and at harvest time Knew happiness in summer when things grew and grief in winter because of dead crops – this makes them more “human-like” Were considered best friends of people because of giving them “life” in the form of food

DEMETER had 1 daughter: Persephone Persephone was out gathering Narcissus flowers in the meadow She was kidnapped by Hades and taken to the underworld

4. Mom could hear her crying but could not find her. 5. For 9 days Demeter wandered looking for her daughter and would not eat Ambrosia or drink Nectar. 6. Finally, she went to the Sun, and he told her that Persephone was in the underworld with Hades. 7. Depressed, Demeter went to the Earth disguised as a mortal woman.

Demeter came to a town where she sat by a well Demeter came to a town where she sat by a well. 4 sisters came to fill their jugs and asked who she was. Demeter said she had escaped from pirates and had nowhere to go, so they invited her to their home. The family liked her, so Demeter was asked to stay and be a nursemaid to the baby son, Demophoon. At night she would lay him in the fire to give him immortal youth.

12. The baby’s mother got mad when she saw this. She yelled at Demeter. Demeter got mad at being yelled at, and revealed herself as a Goddess. She demanded that the family build a temple in her honor. For the next year, nothing grew on Earth. Famine spread and people were dying. Demeter announced that no crops will grow until she gets Persephone back.

16. Zeus had to do something. He sent Hermes to Hades to talk to him. 17. They worked out a deal: Hades would give Persephone back in the spring, but she had to spend at least 4 (6) months with him – this would be winter. 18. So, now the growing season happens in the spring when Persephone is allowed to be with her mother and Demeter is happy. 19. Winter is when Demeter is depressed over the loss of Persephone.

Persephone is always shown with a Pomegranate because Hades tricked her into eating (6) seeds to insure she will return to him each spring and spend (6) months with Hades as his Queen. It was a rule of The Fates that anyone who ate or drank in the underworld was doomed to spend eternity there. Her Roman name is Proserpina.

Eleusinian Mysteries Secret initiation ceremonies held annually for the Cult of Demeter and Persephone. (usually in spring) Rites, ceremonies and beliefs were kept secret. Thought to consist of purifications, fasts, rituals and performances. Believed to insure happiness in the future world.

DIONYSUS Bacchus

Dionysus is the only god whose parents are not both divine Dionysus is the only god whose parents are not both divine. Dad is Zeus, and Mom is Semele, a Theban princess. (Thebes was one of the city states in Greece.) Zeus was so in love with her that he swore by the River Styx that he would do anything she asked. Hera put a wish into Semele’s heart causing her to ask to see Zeus in all his divine glory – knowing what this would do to her.

Because he had sworn by the River Styx, Zeus had to show her – and it killed her. He took her unborn child from her as she was dying and hid the baby inside his own body until he was ready to be born – then gave the child to nymphs to raise. As a young adult, Dionysus wandered and taught about grapes and wine.

Pirate Story One day, pirates saw Dionysus dressed as a prince in his flowing purple robe and took him to hold for ransom. However, the ropes on the ship would not hold him. Sailors hoisted the sails to leave, but the ship would not move. Wine started flowing on the deck and grape vines started to grow and wind around the sails.

Dionysus turned himself into a fierce lion and began roaring at them. The sailors jumped into the sea to escape, and they turned into dolphins. Dionysus had mercy on the ship’s captain.

Immortality of Mom Dionysus felt that his mother had been treated unfairly, so he searched the underworld to find her. He took her to Mt. Olympus to have her made immortal. She became a goddess, but isn’t really mentioned in other stories.

2 Sides of Dionysus Kindness/happiness vs. Anger/madness These represent the different effects of wine. Dionysus embodies them both, and when people drank wine, they were thought to literally take the qualities of Dionysus inside themselves. Dionysus loved to party and had a group of frenzied women – MAENADS - who followed him around and partied with him

The Story of Pentheus Pentheus was the King of Thebes and the son of Semele’s sister. He didn’t like all the noise made by Dionysus and his Maenads when they were partying. He had his men capture the Maenads, but they could not capture/hold Dionysus.

Dionysus helped his Maenads escape and they all fled, but Pentheus chased them – also with his mother and sisters. Dionysus finally revealed himself to all of them and turned the mortal women mad (crazy). He then led the mad women to attack Pentheus and tear him limb from limb until he was dead. It is said that The Maenads tear Dionysus apart in the fall at the end of the growing season.

Festival of Dionysus Formal Theatre began in Greece as a way of praising and entertaining the god Dionysus. Built – late 5th Cent B.C.E. Held 17,000 people

The End ! Created by Ms. Birtcher February 2011 English 9 Westerville North High School