Demeter Demi

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~ DEMETER  id+ | DE METER for GODLY MOTHER |
~ DEMETRA  id+ | GE METER for MOTHER EARTH |
^u         id+ | BONA DEA |
  note DEMETER in Greece shares much with
       CERES in ROME and CYBELE RHEA ASTARTE
  in the "FERTILE CRESCENT" of the MESOPOTAMIA
  ISIS in the NILE valley           sug> HORUS
  SHIVA in the HINDUS valley       sug> GANGES
  note DEMETER stems from FERTILITY IDOLS or
       CORN or BARLEY MOTHER [115]
  CORN refers to any number of GRAINS
  note   DA MA TE     and
  eng    DE ME TER    from
  Cretan DEAI       = BARLEY pointing later to
  lat    DEUS MATER   GODLY MATER or MOTHER
  ukr    DAI          to GIVE
         DIAI         to ACT
         DAR          GIFT
         DARMO        GRATIS
  indeur DARE         TO GIVE
  id+ | THE MATRIX or MOTHER OF THE LIVING |
  id+ | MOTHER EARTH |
  id+ | NOURISHING MOTHER |      sug> VIRGIN MARY
  id+ | NOURISHER OF THE GREEN EARTH |
  id+ | THE NATURAL GOOD |
  id+ | FRUCTIFIER |
  id+ | PRODUCTIVE PRINCIPLE OF THE EARTH |
  id+ | EMBLEM OF A LIVING EARTH |
  id+ | her crown and emblem consist of
        WHEAT and POPPY FLOWERS |
  id+ | A POPPY GODDESS | per THEORITUS [#]
  id+ | DEATH and RESURRECTION |
  id+ | CYCLE OF LIFE |
  id+ | MYSTERIES OF HUMAN NATURE |
  id+ | PLACENTA both for CAKE and BIRTH |
  also known by many TITLES which are not names
  note IT WAS ANATHEMA TO CALL HER BY HER NAME thus
       SHE WAS CALLED BY HER TITLES as
       DEO or BONA DEA         sug> DEITY
       GE                      sug> GEOGRAPHY
  sug> GEA
       GAEA
  sug> OPS
  see> RHEA
  see> CERES
  see> CYBELE a PHRYGIAN DEITY
       CHLOE for "THE GREEN SHOOT - FERTILITY " in Pausians
       POTNIA or "MISTRESS" in Homeric Hymn
       ANESIDORA for "GIFT BEARER" in Pausians
       MELOPHOROS for "APPLE BEARER" in Pausians
       THESMOPHOROS linking her with THEMIS or
                    "GIVER OF CUSTOMS"
  note  THESOMOPHORIA or FESTIVALS for DEMETER
  note  this is PART A for PART B see> CERES
  hx>   UNIVERSALLY WORSHIPED BY ALL ANCIENTS
        LONG BEFORE THE OLYMPIANS
  med> hx> AS A MINOAN POPPY GODDESS
           from CRETE DEMETER introduced
  POPPIES as a SOURCE OF NOURISHMENT and NARCOSIS
  CELEBRATED DURING THE MYSIA SEVEN DAY FESTIVAL
  HELD AT PELLENE in ARCADIA from
  MYSIUS who venerated DEMETER
  myth> THE PRIESTESSES of DEMETER
        HELD THE TITLE OF MELISSA   sug> AMELIORATE
  hx> EARLY INSCRIPTIONS LINK
      DEMETER with POSEIDON
  myth> DEMETER PRESIDED OVER ALL CROPS
        she introduced see> AGRICULTURE
  SHE STOOD FOR FERTILITY  and
  CERES points to CEREAL
  hx> AN APPROPRIATE SACRIFICE TO A
      GODDESS OF CEREALS WOULD BE GRAIN or
  note lat LIBUM or RITUAL BREAD   sug> LIBATION
  myth> TRIPTOLEMOUS THE ADOPTED SON OF DEMETER
        TAUGHT AGRICULTURE TO
  LINKUS THE KING OF SCYTHIANS
  WHEN LINKUS TRIED TO KILL TRIPTOLEMUS
  DEMETER TRANSFORMED LINKUS INTO A LYNX
  biol> LYNX from LINKUS re FOX
  hx>   700 BC  A TEMPLE TO DEMETER STOOD IN ENNA
        THE CULT FOR DEMETER AND PERSEPHONE
  WAS WIDESPREAD IN SICILY BEFORE GREEK COLONIZATION
  PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF ENNA AND LAKE PERGUSA
  hx>   LYNX or FOX PELTS WERE THE
        WINTER HEAD DRESS in THRACIA
  FOXES WERE COMMON AND HUNTED FOR
  IN THE REGIONS OF THE RHODOPE MOUNTAINS
  note her SACRIFICIAL BREAD was known as
           PLACENTA and similar in shape
  and fragility to the HUMAN FETAL PLACENTA
  note sp  PLACER  = PLEASURE       sug> COMPLACENT
  a type of CHEESE CAKE
  shaped and fragile like is the PLACENTA
  made from a PATE OF CHEESE mixed with
       OIL VINEGAR CORIANDER GARLIC and
  BAKED into a CAKE known as MORETUM
  as a SACRIFICIAL BREAD
  hx>  MOLA SALSA was another FORM OF SACRIFICE
       MOLA for GROUND CEREAL mixed with SALT and
  DRIZZLED OVER THE BACK OF A SACRIFICIAL ANIMAL or
  DIRECTLY INTO A FIRE
  note sp  MOLER    = "TO GRIND" and SOFTENING
  med>    EMOLLIENT    a BALM  CALMING
                       implies SOFTENING PAIN
  hx> DEMETER or CERES and her DAUGHTER PERSEPHONY or
      PROSERPINA are central to the
  see> ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES named after a location
       ELEUSIS see next
  myth> DEMETER WAS KINDLY RECEIVED BY THE
        KING CELEUS of ELEUSIS in ATTICA
  HE ASKED HER TO NURSE or CURE HIS SONS
  DEMOPHON and TRIPTOLEMUS whom she later
  TAUGHT THE ART OF AGRICULTURE
  note TRIPTOLEMUS TAUGHT AGRICULTURE TO
       LINKUS THE KING OF SCYTHIANS
  WHEN LINKUS TRIED TO KILL TRIPTOMEUS
  DEMETER TRANSFORMED HIM INTO A LYNX
  hx> in lat her festivity was CERALIA
  hx>   DEMETER is a VERY ANCIENT DIETY WITH AN
        OBSCURE HISTORY intertwined with those of
  myth> DEO is one of her most ancient names
  myth> GREEKS present DEMETER as the daughter of
        RHEA & SATURN or CHRONOS or OPS
  SHE WAS SWALLOWED BY KRONOS
  ALONG WITH HER SIBLINGS
  HER BIRTH AND THAT OF HER SIBLINGS OCCURRED
  WHEN ZEUS CONVINCED METIS
  TO FEED AN EMETIC TO CHRONUS  sug> EMERITUS
  WHICH INDUCED HIM TO
  DISGORGE HIS OFFSPRING        sug> VOMIT
  DEMETER or CERES is
  ONE OF THE 12 GREAT OLYMPIANS
  SISTER OF JUPITER
  SISTER OF HERA
  BY HER BROTHER ZEUS she had PERSEPHONE or PROSERPINA
  BY HER BROTHER POSEIDON she had A BLACK STEED
  ORION or ARION AREION or PEGASUS
  HER BROTHER HADES raped PROSERPINA
  myth> THE TRAGEDY OF DEMETER WAS THE
        ABDUCTION OF PROSERPINA or KORE or KHORA
  BY HADES or PLUTO
  CERES WAS SO DISTRESSED THAT SHE LEFT THIS EARTH
  CAUSING BARENESS akin to a PERMANENT  WINTER
  see> PERSEPHONE
  hx> UNDER ROME THE NAMES OF MALE ANCESTORS
      COULD NOT BE PRONOUNCED IN THE
  PRECINCTS OF CERES
  note THE ELEUSIAN MYSTERIES WERE RESERVED FOR WOMEN
  hx>  BONA DEAS TEMPLE IN ROME included a
       HERBARIUM which provided materials to make
  med> MEDICINES and in A SANCTUARY IN PAESTUM
       BODY IMAGES WERE LEFT THOSE CURED OR BY
  AILING WOMEN TO ILLUSTRATE THE HEALING ACTIVITIES
  IMPLORED FROM BONA DEA
  BONA REA IS THE TITLE and not the name of DEMETER
  HER ACTUAL COULD NOT BE MENTIONED
  IT WAS A SOCIAL TABOO
  note FATUA and FAUNA WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CULT
       lat FATUARI = TO SPEAK FOR  as per
       eng FATUOUS   ABSURD PROPHETIC UTTERANCES
  note Cornelis LABEO equated BONA DEA or GOOD GODDESS with
       GEA or EARTH and MAIA and OPS
  note MALES WERE EXCLUDED FROM BONA DEA FESTIVITIES
       CELEBRATED TWICE A YEAR
  MAY 1ST DURING WHICH A PREGNANT SOW WAS SACRIFICED TO
  CERES and TERRA MATER and
  DECEMBER 3rd WAS A NOCTURNAL CELEBRATION
  myth> MOST PRIESTESSES OF CERES CAME FROM CONQUERED
        MAGNA GRECIA or SOUTHERN ITALY
  FROM FUSION WITH ROMAN RITES EMERGED THE
  BACCHANALIA STEEPED WITH DIONYSIAN ELEMENTS WHICH
  GRADUALLY ACCEPTED BOYS AND MEN BUT WOMEN
  RETAINED CONTROL OF THE FESTIVITIES
  note a report by LIVY [#]
  " ... ALL FEELINGS OF SHAME EXTINGUISHED
    THEY THEMSELVES TO ALL KINDS OF DEBAUCHERY
    NOT LIMITED TO FACELESS COUPLING OF MALE AND FEMALE
    ... ALSO MURDERS ... THERE IS NO CRIME OR MISDEED
    WHICH THEY HAVE NOT COMMITTED ... "
  A MASSIVE ROMAN "WITCH HUNT" FOLLOWED
  note IT APPEARS THAT MATRONS RETALIATED
       BY POISONING THEIR HUSBANDS 184-80 BC
  note STATE PROSECUTIONS AND RESTRICTIONS
       CONSISTENTLY FAILED
  ULTIMATELY THE ROMAN STATE CLAUDICATED AND
  PRIESTESSES OF CERES AND THE BACCHIC CULTS
  BECAME LEGAL GIVING RISE TO A
  MULTITUDE OF HEALERS DIVINES AND WITCHES
  or PYTHONISSAE WHO OFFERED THEIR SERVICES
  ACROSS THE ROMAN EMPIRE
  perhaps akin to the modern
  "reawakening" of "SPIRITUALITY" in
  "FAITH BASED POLITICS"
  some described these services as
  VERBAE ET HERBAE or WORD and HERB
  and called such women
  SAGGAE or WISE WOMEN
  WISER STATESMEN SAW SUCH RISE AS
  SUBVERSIVE TO THE ROMAN STATE
  hx> note ROMANS HAD THE IDEA THAT
           STRIGAE or RUBBING NAKED BODIES
  WITH STRANGE OILS GAVE THE POWER OF FLIGHT
  and idea RESURRECTED DURING
  THE RENAISSANCE WITCH HUNTS
  note DIANA became THE LEADER OF FLYING WITCHES
       A FORERUNNER OF SUBSEQUENT IDEAS THAT
  EVOLVED INTO FLYING WITCHES ON A BROOMSKICK
  hx> SOME HISTORIANS CONSIDER THAT
      TO OBLITERATE THE CULT OF DEMETER which was
  akin to those of the EPHESIAN ARTEMIS
  CHRISTIANS STIMULATED THE WORSHIP OF THE VIRGIN MARY
  AS ALSO THE MOTHER OF GOD AND AN EMBLEM OF SWEETNESS
  ST MARY WAS ALSO A PORTAL FOR HOPES FOR A NEW LIFE
  THE SIMILARITIES WITH THE PLIGHT OF PERSEPHONE
  WHO RETURNED REGULARLY TO EARTH AS SPRING
  REVERBERATED IN CHRISTIANIZED EASTER CELEBRATIONS
  note CERES WAS HONORED AND CELEBRATED
       BY THE ELEUSIAN or ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES
  SCHEMATICALLY THE TRAGEDY OF THE LOSS OF PERSEPHONE
  ABDUCTED BY HADES INDUCED DEMETER TO MOUNT HER CAR
  DRAWN BY WINGED SNAKES AND SEARCH THE EARTH FOR HER
  THE EARTH WILTED AND INFERTILE         symb> WINTER
  WHILE SEARCHING FOR PERSEPHONE
  DEMETER HAD TO AVOID THE LUST OF POSEIDON  sug> YEN
  SHE TOOK TO FORM A MARE AND GRAZED WITH THE HERDS OF
  ONCIUS AT THELPUSA BUT
  POSEIDON BECAME A STALLION AND MOUNTED HER AND
  DEMETER BORE ARION WHO BECAME A MARVEL HORSE
  note     KERES pointing to
       ukr KOBYLA = MARE
       pol KOBITA   WOMAN
  note artistic representations of DEMETER as a
       hybrid with EQUINE body and a head of a WOMAN
  cont ONCE BEING TIRED DEMETER WAS EATING EAGERLY
       WHICH INDUCED A RUDE BOY ASCALABUS TO MOCK HER
  CERES FLUNG THE REMNANTS IN HER CUP which contained
  KYKEON or BARLEY WATER which transformed
  ASCALABUS into a SPOTTED LIZARD
  cont HAVING FAILED TO CONVINCE ZEUS TO INSIST THAT
       HIS BROTHER HADES SHOULD RELEASE PERSEPHONE
  SHE DECIDED TO LEAVE OLYMPUS AND SETTLE ON EARTH
  WHERE SHE TAUGHT THE ART OF AGRICULTURE and
  TAUGHT TITANS TO SOW GRAINS
  SHE GAVE KELEOS
  THE PLOW AND TO HIS SON
  TRIPTOLEMOS SEED FOR BARLEY AND OF
  JASION SHE MADE THE FIRST SOWER OF GRAIN
  note another protagonist known as ERYSICHTON or
       ERISICHTON or WHO " THE EARTH UPTURNED " or
  " THE PLOUGHMAN or PLOWMAN "
  BECAUSE ERISCHTON OFFENDED DEMETER
  BY CUTTING HER TREES
  SHE PUNISHED HIM WITH DEVASTATING HUNGER
  HE ATE HIS OWN LEGS AND LATER CONSUMED HIMSELF
  hx>  FESTIVALS IN HONOR OF DEMETER INCLUDED
       HALOA or THALYSIA for HARVEST FEASTS
  THESMOPHOROS               MARRIED LIFE
  HELD FROM OCTOBER 9th to 13th which is akin to
  THANKS GIVING see> THANKSGIVING
  note THE GREEK FESTIVAL OF ELEUSIAN MYSTERIES
       WAS CELEBRATED IN ELEUSIS near ATHENS
  lit+ PINDAR [#] AND AESCHYLOS [#] assert that
       THE FESTIVAL WAS RESERVED FOR WOMEN and
  TOOK PLACE AT NIGHT
  EPOPTAE WERE THOSE WOMEN IN THE FINAL STAGES OF INITIATION
  MYSTAE WERE WOMEN IN EARLY STAGES OF INITIATION
  note that THE WORSHIP OF DEMETER included
       DIONYSOS and BACCHUS and often gave rise to
  BACCHANALIA resisted by ROMAN STATESMEN
  in Italy where DEMETER was CERES or LIBER or LIBERA
  note JACCHOS FESTIVALS that were held in
       SPRING and SEPTEMBER
  art> POPPIES ARE ATTRIBUTES OF DEMETER CERES AND
       HER DAUGHTER PERSEPHONE
  along with THE CORNUCOPIA or
  HORN OF PLENTY
  art> A STATUE OF DEMETER IN CNIDUS or KNIDOS
       now in the BRITISH MUSEUM
  SHOWS DEMETER ADORNED WITH BRANCHES OF PLANTS
  TO REPRESENT THE FERTILITY OF THE EARTH
  art> on VASES DEMETER and PERSEPHONE are often
       shown with TRIPTOLEMOS SEATED IN HER CAR
  lit+ " CERES YOKED HER PAIR OF DRAGONS TO HER CHARIOT ...
         AND BROUGHT THE CHARIOT TO TRIPOLEMUS AND
  GAVE HIM SEED AND BADE HIM SCATTER IT
  PARTLY IN VIRGIN LAND AND PART IN FIELDS ... " OVID [#]
  in Metamorphoses [13] v 646
  biol> lat ASKALABOS is a species of LIZARDS
  cont> see> CERES
  cont> see> PERSEPHONE
  cont> see> ELEUSINIAN