The 2 Great Gods The 2 Great Gods of the Earthof the Earth

Demeter & DionysusDemeter & Dionysus

Why were they “Gods of Why were they “Gods of the Earth”?the Earth”?

Lived on Earth among their people instead of Lived on Earth among their people instead of on Mount Olympuson Mount Olympus

Controlled the crops they grew – grain/grapes.Controlled the crops they grew – grain/grapes. Festivals were held for them in spring and at Festivals were held for them in spring and at

harvest timeharvest time Knew happiness in summer when things grew Knew happiness in summer when things grew

and grief in winter because of dead crops – this and grief in winter because of dead crops – this makes them more “human-like”makes them more “human-like”

Were considered best friends of people Were considered best friends of people because of giving them “life” in the form of foodbecause of giving them “life” in the form of food

DEMETERDEMETER

1.1. had 1 daughter: had 1 daughter: PersephonePersephone

2.2. Persephone was Persephone was out gathering out gathering Narcissus flowers in Narcissus flowers in the meadowthe meadow

3.3. She was kidnapped She was kidnapped by Hades and taken by Hades and taken to the underworldto the underworld

4. Mom could hear her crying but could not 4. Mom could hear her crying but could not find her.find her.

5. For 9 days Demeter wandered looking 5. For 9 days Demeter wandered looking for her daughter and would not eat for her daughter and would not eat AmbrosiaAmbrosia or drink or drink NectarNectar..

6. Finally, she went to the Sun, and he told 6. Finally, she went to the Sun, and he told her that Persephone was in the her that Persephone was in the underworld with Hades.underworld with Hades.

7. Depressed, Demeter went to the Earth 7. Depressed, Demeter went to the Earth disguised as a mortal woman.disguised as a mortal woman.

8.8. Demeter came to a town where she sat Demeter came to a town where she sat by a well. 4 sisters came to fill their by a well. 4 sisters came to fill their jugs and asked who she was.jugs and asked who she was.

9.9. Demeter said she had escaped from Demeter said she had escaped from pirates and had nowhere to go, so they pirates and had nowhere to go, so they invited her to their home.invited her to their home.

10.10. The family liked her, so Demeter was The family liked her, so Demeter was asked to stay and be a nursemaid to asked to stay and be a nursemaid to the baby son, Demophoon.the baby son, Demophoon.

11.11. At night she would lay him in the fire to At night she would lay him in the fire to give him immortal youth.give him immortal youth.

12. The baby’s mother got mad when she 12. The baby’s mother got mad when she saw this. She yelled at Demeter.saw this. She yelled at Demeter.

13.13. Demeter got mad at being yelled at, Demeter got mad at being yelled at, and revealed herself as a Goddess.and revealed herself as a Goddess.

14.14. She demanded that the family build a She demanded that the family build a temple in her honor.temple in her honor.

15.15. For the next year, nothing grew on For the next year, nothing grew on Earth. Famine spread and people were Earth. Famine spread and people were dying. Demeter announced that no dying. Demeter announced that no crops will grow until she gets crops will grow until she gets Persephone back. Persephone back.

16. Zeus had to do something. 16. Zeus had to do something. He sent Hermes to Hades to He sent Hermes to Hades to talk to him.talk to him.

17. They worked out a deal: 17. They worked out a deal: Hades would give Persephone Hades would give Persephone back in the spring, but she had back in the spring, but she had to spend at least 4 (6) months to spend at least 4 (6) months with him – this would be with him – this would be winter.winter.

18. So, now the growing season 18. So, now the growing season happens in the spring when happens in the spring when Persephone is allowed to be Persephone is allowed to be with her mother and Demeter with her mother and Demeter is happy.is happy.

19. Winter is when Demeter is 19. Winter is when Demeter is depressed over the loss of depressed over the loss of Persephone.Persephone.

Persephone is always Persephone is always shown with a Pomegranate shown with a Pomegranate because Hades tricked her because Hades tricked her into eating (6) seeds to into eating (6) seeds to insure she will return to him insure she will return to him each spring and spend (6) each spring and spend (6) months with Hades as his months with Hades as his Queen.Queen.

It was a rule of The Fates It was a rule of The Fates that anyone who ate or that anyone who ate or drank in the underworld was drank in the underworld was doomed to spend eternity doomed to spend eternity there. there.

Her Roman name is Her Roman name is Proserpina.Proserpina.

Eleusinian MysteriesEleusinian Mysteries

Secret initiation ceremonies held Secret initiation ceremonies held annually for the Cult of Demeter and annually for the Cult of Demeter and Persephone. (usually in spring)Persephone. (usually in spring)

Rites, ceremonies and beliefs were kept Rites, ceremonies and beliefs were kept secret.secret.

Thought to consist of purifications, fasts, Thought to consist of purifications, fasts, rituals and performances.rituals and performances.

Believed to insure happiness in the future Believed to insure happiness in the future world.world.

DIONYSUSDIONYSUSBacchusBacchus

Dionysus is the only god whose parents Dionysus is the only god whose parents are not both divine. Dad is Zeus, and are not both divine. Dad is Zeus, and Mom is Semele, a Theban princess. Mom is Semele, a Theban princess. (Thebes was one of the city states in (Thebes was one of the city states in Greece.)Greece.)

Zeus was so in love with her that he Zeus was so in love with her that he swore by the swore by the River StyxRiver Styx that he would do that he would do anything she asked.anything she asked.

Hera put a wish into Semele’s heart Hera put a wish into Semele’s heart causing her to ask to see Zeus in all his causing her to ask to see Zeus in all his divine glory – knowing what this would do divine glory – knowing what this would do to her.to her.

Because he had sworn by the River Styx, Because he had sworn by the River Styx, Zeus had to show her – and it killed her.Zeus had to show her – and it killed her.

He took her unborn child from her as she He took her unborn child from her as she was dying and hid the baby inside his was dying and hid the baby inside his own body until he was ready to be born – own body until he was ready to be born – then gave the child to nymphs to raise.then gave the child to nymphs to raise.

As a young adult, Dionysus wandered As a young adult, Dionysus wandered and taught about grapes and wine.and taught about grapes and wine.

Pirate StoryPirate Story

One day, pirates saw Dionysus dressed as a One day, pirates saw Dionysus dressed as a prince in his flowing purple robe and took him prince in his flowing purple robe and took him to hold for ransom.to hold for ransom.

However, the ropes on the ship would not hold However, the ropes on the ship would not hold him.him.

Sailors hoisted the sails to leave, but the ship Sailors hoisted the sails to leave, but the ship would not move.would not move.

Wine started flowing on the deck and grape Wine started flowing on the deck and grape vines started to grow and wind around the vines started to grow and wind around the sails.sails.

Dionysus turned himself into a fierce lion Dionysus turned himself into a fierce lion and began roaring at them.and began roaring at them.

The sailors jumped into the sea to The sailors jumped into the sea to escape, and they turned into dolphins.escape, and they turned into dolphins.

Dionysus had mercy on the ship’s Dionysus had mercy on the ship’s captain.captain.

Dionysus felt that his mother had been Dionysus felt that his mother had been treated unfairly, so he searched the treated unfairly, so he searched the underworld to find her.underworld to find her.

He took her to Mt. Olympus to have her He took her to Mt. Olympus to have her made immortal.made immortal.

She became a goddess, but isn’t really She became a goddess, but isn’t really mentioned in other stories.mentioned in other stories.

Immortality of MomImmortality of Mom

2 Sides of Dionysus2 Sides of Dionysus Kindness/happiness vs. Anger/madnessKindness/happiness vs. Anger/madness These represent the different effects of These represent the different effects of

wine. wine. Dionysus embodies them both, and when Dionysus embodies them both, and when

people drank wine, they were thought to people drank wine, they were thought to literally take the qualities of Dionysus inside literally take the qualities of Dionysus inside themselves.themselves.

Dionysus loved to party and had a group of Dionysus loved to party and had a group of frenzied women – frenzied women – MAENADSMAENADS - who - who followed him around and partied with himfollowed him around and partied with him

The Story of PentheusThe Story of Pentheus

Pentheus was the King of Thebes and Pentheus was the King of Thebes and the son of Semele’s sister. the son of Semele’s sister.

He didn’t like all the noise made by He didn’t like all the noise made by Dionysus and his Maenads when they Dionysus and his Maenads when they were partying.were partying.

He had his men capture the Maenads, He had his men capture the Maenads, but they could not capture/hold Dionysus.but they could not capture/hold Dionysus.

Dionysus helped his Maenads escape Dionysus helped his Maenads escape and they all fled, but Pentheus chased and they all fled, but Pentheus chased them – also with his mother and sisters.them – also with his mother and sisters.

Dionysus finally revealed himself to all of Dionysus finally revealed himself to all of them and turned the mortal women mad them and turned the mortal women mad (crazy). (crazy).

He then led the mad women to attack He then led the mad women to attack Pentheus and tear him limb from limb Pentheus and tear him limb from limb until he was dead.until he was dead.

It is said that The Maenads tear Dionysus It is said that The Maenads tear Dionysus apart in the fall at the end of the growing apart in the fall at the end of the growing season. season.

Festival of DionysusFestival of Dionysus

Formal Theatre Formal Theatre began in Greece as began in Greece as a way of praising and a way of praising and entertaining the god entertaining the god Dionysus. Dionysus.

Built – late 5Built – late 5thth Cent Cent B.C.E.B.C.E.

Held 17,000 peopleHeld 17,000 people

The End !The End !

Created by Ms. BirtcherCreated by Ms. BirtcherFebruary 2011February 2011English 9 English 9 Westerville North High SchoolWesterville North High School