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Demeter
As the goddess of grain and fertility, Demeter played an important - indeed
essential - role in ancient Greek society. The Greeks, like most ancient cultures, relied upon agriculture for their sustenance.
As the patron deity of agriculture, Demeter was accordingly worshipped with festivals(such as the Thesmophoria) and other
honors. Likewise, her association with grain also translated into a close relationship with human fertility, as this was another
crucial part in our continuing survival. There are, consequently, many myths dealing with Demeter in her capacity as a fertility
goddess.
Perhaps the most poignant of these myths is the so-called Homeric Hymn to
Demeter, in which the story of the goddess and the loss of her daughter Persephone is told. The Hymn to Demeter is thought
by scholars to be not only a myth about the abduction of Persephone and the consequent anger of Demeter - it also alludes
to aspects of the mystery cult referred to as the Eleusinian Mysteries. This cult falls more properly into the realm of Greek
religion, rather than myth, so it will not be discussed it in any detail here. However, as it is an integral aspect of the
worship of Demeter, it should at least be mentioned in this context.
In addition to the myth of Demeter and her daughter Persephone in the Homeric
Hymn to Demeter, another intriguing tale that involves the goddess of fertility is her affair with the mortal Iasion. According
to the version told by the poet Hesiod, Demeter and the hero "coupled with passion on a field plowed three times, in the rich
soil of Crete." Apparently, this legendary liaison with Iasion was quite a fruitful one, for Demeter became pregnant and eventually
bore her human lover a son named Plutus.
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Apollo
Apollo is in many respects the paradigm of a Greek god. He represents
order, harmony, and civilization in a way that most other Olympian deities cannot quite equal. One only has to compare him
with Dionysos to understand how Apollo is depicted as a bright, rational counterpart to the chaotic and frenzied god
of wine and women. Indeed, Apollo is most often associated with the cultivated arts of music and medicine, and his role as
the leader of the Muses establishes him as a patron of intellectual pursuits.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that in art, images of Apollo
represented the height of male attractiveness - indeed, for years, Archaic statues of youths were commonly referred to as
"Apollo", later to be replaced the more accurate term "kouros" (young man). However, as with most Greek deities, Apollo has
characteristics that are myriad and diverse, so we should proceed to an exploration of this important god.
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Athena
Much has been written about the goddess Athena. As the patron deity of
the city of Athens, she played an enormous role in the lives of not only the residents of that illustrious polis (Greek for
city), but in many respects all of the Greek speaking world. Our oldest sources of Greek literature - the works of Homer and
Hesiod - discuss Athena. The goddess appears in several significant passages of Homer's Iliad, and she is one of the most
influential deities in the Odyssey in her role as Odysseus's patron and ally. Therefore, Athena's attributes were codified
early in the epics and poetry of Greece: she was the divine sponsor of warriors and heroes, she introduced several of the
arts and crafts necessary for civilization, and she represented wisdom. Obviously, the goddess played a prominent role in
Greek mythology.
Birth of Athena
The poet Hesiod states that Athena emerged from the head of Zeus; indeed,
she sprang out fully grown and armed for battle. Furthermore, the legend of her birth reveals another odd aspect. According
to the story, Zeus became enamored with Metis (the name Metis, incidentally, means "thought"). Together, they conceived
a child, but Zeus, fearing that his offspring would be a powerful male god who would eventually overthrow him, swallowed the
pregnant Metis. In time, it was Zeus himself who gave birth to a daughter, with the assistance of Hephaistos , who played
the part of a midwife by striking Zeus's head with an axe and thereby releasing Athena.
This instance of Zeus giving birth is not unique: the god also gave birth
to Dionysos . Indeed, this is significant, as the birth of Athena from the head of her father emphasizes a couple of
important features about the goddess. The idea that she was born from a male underscores her relationship with men, both divine
and human. In the human realm, Athena consistently becomes a protector of heroes; while in the divine she completely avoids
sexual liaisons with gods.
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