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Demeter

Goddess of the Harvest

Demeter was the Olympian Goddess of the Harvest and Agriculture, a sister of Zeus and mother of Persephone. She held dominion over plants and grain, and her grief at the abduction of her daughter by Hades brought barren winter upon the earth.

By Joe Garratt

Demeter was the Olympian Goddess of the Harvest and Agriculture, a sister of Zeus and the mother of Persephone. She held dominion over the growing things of the earth, and her sorrows shaped the turning of the seasons.

Daughter of Cronos#

Demeter was a goddess of Mount Olympus, born of the Titan Cronos. Like most of her siblings she was swallowed by her father shortly after her birth, and she was freed only when Zeus rescued them all. She then joined her brother to wage the Great War against the Titans. After the fall of the Titans she took dominion over plants and agriculture, and grain above all, but she rarely entered into the quarrels of the gods and featured in few of their stories.

The loss of Persephone#

The most famous of Demeter's tales was the abduction of her daughter Persephone by her brother Hades, lord of the dead. Unable to find her child, Demeter searched the whole of the earth until at last she asked Helios, the all-seeing sun. The Sun God revealed the truth to her, and Demeter fell into a deep despair, so that the earth itself went barren. To prevent all living things from starving, Zeus struck a bargain with Hades, that Persephone would pass two thirds of the year with her mother and one third with her husband below. From that day, Demeter's joy at her daughter's return to Olympus brought the green growth of spring, and her grief at Persephone's descent to the Underworld brought the lifeless cold of winter.

In the age of Kratos#

Demeter rarely appeared in the events of the later saga, though she was named in the deeds of Kratos' service to the gods. In one account she came with her sister Hestia, the eldest of the first Olympians, and there she showed her contempt for Kratos and his conquest of cities, declaring that her worshippers starved because of him. When she noticed the Ghost of Sparta watching them, she took her sister's hand and departed.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Demeter in God of War?
Demeter was the Olympian Goddess of the Harvest and Agriculture, a sister of Zeus and the mother of Persephone. She held dominion over plants, vegetation, and grain, and rarely involved herself in the quarrels of the other gods.
What is the story of Demeter and Persephone?
When her daughter Persephone was carried off to the Underworld by Hades, Demeter searched the earth in vain until Helios revealed the truth. Her grief turned the world barren, and only a bargain struck by Zeus, dividing Persephone's year, restored the seasons.
Does Demeter appear in the God of War games?
Demeter rarely featured in the events of the saga and was mentioned in the tale of Chains of Olympus. She appeared with her sister Hestia in a separate account, where she scorned Kratos for the cities he had conquered and the worshippers left to starve.

Sources

  • WikiDemeterGod of War Wiki entry

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