Demeter and PersephoneDemeter and Persephone

“The Power of a Mother’s Love”

“The Power of a Mother’s Love”

Persephone and HadesPersephone and Hades

“The Marriage from Hell”

(Literally!)

“The Marriage from Hell”

(Literally!)

Sociological InsightSociological Insight Greek marriage Greek marriage customs: bride (16-customs: bride (16-18); husband (30-18); husband (30-ish)ish)

Dangers of Dangers of childbirthchildbirth

EpiklarosEpiklaros

Gender gap; tension Gender gap; tension between the sexes between the sexes (Zeus vs. Demeter)(Zeus vs. Demeter)

Greek marriage Greek marriage customs: bride (16-customs: bride (16-18); husband (30-18); husband (30-ish)ish)

Dangers of Dangers of childbirthchildbirth

EpiklarosEpiklaros

Gender gap; tension Gender gap; tension between the sexes between the sexes (Zeus vs. Demeter)(Zeus vs. Demeter)

Psychological InsightPsychological Insight

Abduction from Abduction from meadow = Loss of meadow = Loss of virginityvirginity

Daughter: Breaking Daughter: Breaking away from parentsaway from parents

Mother: “Empty Mother: “Empty nest” syndromenest” syndrome

Hades = “father Hades = “father figure”figure”

Abduction from Abduction from meadow = Loss of meadow = Loss of virginityvirginity

Daughter: Breaking Daughter: Breaking away from parentsaway from parents

Mother: “Empty Mother: “Empty nest” syndromenest” syndrome

Hades = “father Hades = “father figure”figure”

Metaphysical & Aetiological Insights

Metaphysical & Aetiological Insights

Struggle to Struggle to accept cycle of accept cycle of life & deathlife & death

Hades/Death: Hades/Death: misunderstoodmisunderstood

Cycle of the Cycle of the seasonsseasons

Struggle to Struggle to accept cycle of accept cycle of life & deathlife & death

Hades/Death: Hades/Death: misunderstoodmisunderstood

Cycle of the Cycle of the seasonsseasons

Ritualistic Practice (The Cult of Demeter &The Eleusinian

Mysteries)

Ritualistic Practice (The Cult of Demeter &The Eleusinian

Mysteries)

Festival lasted a weekFestival lasted a week

Food, barley drink, Food, barley drink, and music with obscene and music with obscene lyrics!lyrics!

Celebration at Eleusis Celebration at Eleusis was for WOMEN ONLY!was for WOMEN ONLY!

Followers were Followers were promised blessings in promised blessings in the afterlifethe afterlife

Festival lasted a weekFestival lasted a week

Food, barley drink, Food, barley drink, and music with obscene and music with obscene lyrics!lyrics!

Celebration at Eleusis Celebration at Eleusis was for WOMEN ONLY!was for WOMEN ONLY!

Followers were Followers were promised blessings in promised blessings in the afterlifethe afterlife

Historical InsightHistorical Insight

Eleusis was a real place!Eleusis was a real place!

Conquered by Athens, Sixth Century Conquered by Athens, Sixth Century B.C.B.C.

Archeological dig reveals Telesterion Archeological dig reveals Telesterion

Eleusis was a real place!Eleusis was a real place!

Conquered by Athens, Sixth Century Conquered by Athens, Sixth Century B.C.B.C.

Archeological dig reveals Telesterion Archeological dig reveals Telesterion