CERES--DEMETER.
_Ques._ Who was Ceres?
_Ans._ She was the daughter of Saturn and Ops, and was worshipped as
the goddess of fruits and corn. It is supposed that she first invented
and taught the art of tilling the earth, and sowing wheat and other
grains, so that men ate wholesome bread, where before they had lived
on roots and acorns.
_Ques._ How is Ceres represented?
_Ans._ As a beautiful and majestic woman, with golden hair, and
crowned with ears of wheat; in her right hand she holds poppies and
ears of corn, and in her left, a flaming torch.
_Ques._ Explain these emblems.
_Ans._ The hair of Ceres is golden, to represent the color of ripe
corn; she holds a lighted torch, because when her daughter Proser´pine
was stolen by Pluto, Ceres kindled a torch from the flames of Mount
Etna, to light her on her search throughout the world. She holds a
poppy, because when she was so grieved that she could neither rest
nor sleep, Jupiter gave her a poppy to eat.
_Ques._ Relate the story of Proser´pine (Perse´phone).
_Ans._ None of the goddesses were willing to marry Pluto, or share his
gloomy kingdom. He determined, nevertheless, to obtain a wife, even if
he had to do so by violence. Proser´pine, the daughter of Jupiter and
Ceres, was gathering daffodils with her companions in the plains of
Enna, when Pluto suddenly appeared among them in a chariot drawn by
black horses. As the maidens fled in terror, he seized Proser´pine,
and striking the waters of the fountain Cy´ane with his trident, he
opened a passage, through which he descended with his prize. Ceres,
ignorant of what had occurred, wandered through the world in search of
her daughter. At length, arriving at the fountain of Cy´ane, she
perceived the girdle of Proser´pine still floating on its waters; and
the nymph Arethusa informed her of what had taken place. Ceres
repaired immediately to Olympus, where she made her complaint to
Jupiter, and demanded that Pluto should restore her daughter. Jupiter
promised to grant her request, in case Proser´pine should not have
tasted food in the infernal regions. Ceres descended thither, and
Proser´pine prepared joyfully to accompany her mother, when
Ascal´aphus reported that he had seen her eat some seeds of
pomegranate. The hopes of Ceres were thus destroyed, but Proser´pine
was so indignant at the treachery of Ascal´aphus, that she changed
him immediately into an owl. Jupiter endeavored to appease the
resentment of Ceres by permitting Proser´pine to divide the year,
spending six months with her mother on earth, the other six with Pluto
in the infernal regions.
_Ques._ What were the most famous solemnities instituted in honor of
Ceres?
_Ans._ The Eleusian or Eleusinian Mysteries. They were named from
Eleusis, a town in Greece where they were celebrated.
_Ques._ What rites were practiced during these mysteries?
_Ans._ We cannot tell with any certainty. The penalty of death was
decreed against any one who should betray the secret, or even witness
the ceremonies without having been regularly initiated. Disclosures
were made, however, which seem to prove that the person to be
initiated was first introduced into a dark subterranean cave, where he
was terrified with the most fearful sights and sounds. After this, if
his courage did not fail, he was suddenly introduced into a lovely
garden, and the ceremonies concluded with feasting and dancing.
_Ques._ Who were admitted to these rites?
_Ans._ Athenians only; but Hercules, to whom no one dared refuse
anything, was initiated, and after him, other distinguished foreigners
were admitted to what were called the Lesser Mysteries. The Athenians
were eager to be admitted to these rites, because they believed that
the souls of those who had not been initiated were left to wallow in
mud and filth in the lower regions.
_Ques._ What do the early Christian writers say of these mysteries?
_Ans._ They speak of them as being almost as immoral as the festivals
held in honor of Bacchus.
_Ques._ Who is said to have instituted them?
_Ans._ Triptol´emus, the foster-child of Ceres.
_Ques._ Relate the story of Triptol´emus.
_Ans._ When Ceres was seeking Proser´pine by sea and land, she was
kindly entertained by Celeus, king of Eleusis, in Attica. She rewarded
his hospitality by taking care of his young son, whom she nourished
during the day with celestial food; but in the night, she covered him
with fire. Under this extraordinary treatment, the infant, in a few
days, became a beautiful young man. His mother, Meganira, wondered at
this, and resolved to discover the cause. She watched Ceres at night,
and when she saw her covering Triptol´emus with living coals, she
cried out in terror, and rushed into the room to save him. Ceres
punished her curiosity with death, but she adopted Triptol´emus, and
sent him through the world to teach mankind the use of corn. He
executed the commands of Ceres, and wherever he went, instructed men
in sowing, reaping, and other arts of husbandry. Triptol´emus is
usually represented as a young man, seated in a splendid chariot
drawn by flying serpents.
_Ques._ What sacrifices were offered to Ceres?
_Ans._ Young heifers, swine and ears of corn, wine, milk and honey
were used in the libations.
_Ques._ What were the Ambarvalia?
_Ans._ They were feasts kept in the beginning of harvest, preparatory
to reaping. The animal to be offered in sacrifice, was led around the
fields, the husbandmen and country rustics following with shouts and
songs. Virgil says of these festivities:
Let ev'ry swain adore her power divine,
And milk and honey mix with sparkling wine;
Let all the choir of clowns attend this show,
In long procession, shouting as they go;
Invoking her to bless their yearly stores,
Inviting plenty to their crowded floors.
Thus in the spring, and thus in summer's heat,
Before the sickles touch the rip'ning wheat,
On Ceres call; and let the lab'ring hind
With oaken wreaths his hollow temples bind;
On Ceres let him call, and Ceres praise,
With uncouth dances, and with country-lays.
GEORG. I.