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Demeter and the Eleusinian Mysteries
We shall open up our talk with the extremely long yet captivating and powerful Homeric Hymn to Demeter ;
TO DEMETER (495 lines)
(1-3) I begin to sing of rich-haired Demeter, awful goddess
-- of her and her trim-ankled daughter whom Aidoneus rapt away,
given to him by all-seeing Zeus the loud-thunderer.
(4-18) Apart from Demeter, lady of the golden sword and
glorious fruits, she was playing with the deep-bosomed daughters
of Oceanus and gathering flowers over a soft meadow, roses and
crocuses and beautiful violets, irises also and hyacinths and the
narcissus, which Earth made to grow at the will of Zeus and to
please the Host of Many, to be a snare for the bloom-like girl --
a marvellous, radiant flower. It was a thing of awe whether for
deathless gods or mortal men to see: from its root grew a hundred
blooms and is smelled most sweetly, so that all wide heaven above
and the whole earth and the sea's salt swell laughed for joy.
And the girl was amazed and reached out with both hands to take
the lovely toy; but the wide-pathed earth yawned there in the
plain of Nysa, and the lord, Host of Many, with his immortal
horses sprang out upon her -- the Son of Cronos, He who has many
names.
(19-32) He caught her up reluctant on his golden car and bare
her away lamenting. Then she cried out shrilly with her voice,
calling upon her father, the Son of Cronos, who is most high and
excellent. But no one, either of the deathless gods or of mortal
men, heard her voice, nor yet the olive-trees bearing rich fruit:
only tender-hearted Hecate, bright-coiffed, the daughter of
Persaeus, heard the girl from her cave, and the lord Helios,
Hyperion's bright son, as she cried to her father, the Son of
Cronos. But he was sitting aloof, apart from the gods, in his
temple where many pray, and receiving sweet offerings from mortal
men. So he, that Son of Cronos, of many names, who is Ruler of
Many and Host of Many, was bearing her away by leave of Zeus on
his immortal chariot -- his own brother's child and all
unwilling.
(33-39) And so long as she, the goddess, yet beheld earth and
starry heaven and the strong-flowing sea where fishes shoal, and
the rays of the sun, and still hoped to see her dear mother and
the tribes of the eternal gods, so long hope calmed her great
heart for all her trouble....
....and the heights of the mountains and the depths of the sea
rang with her immortal voice: and her queenly mother heard her.
(40-53) Bitter pain seized her heart, and she rent the
covering upon her divine hair with her dear hands: her dark cloak
she cast down from both her shoulders and sped, like a wild-bird,
over the firm land and yielding sea, seeking her child. But no
one would tell her the truth, neither god nor mortal men; and of
the birds of omen none came with true news for her. Then for
nine days queenly Deo wandered over the earth with flaming
torches in her hands, so grieved that she never tasted ambrosia
and the sweet draught of nectar, nor sprinkled her body with
water. But when the tenth enlightening dawn had come, Hecate,
with a torch in her hands, met her, and spoke to her and told her
news:
(54-58) `Queenly Demeter, bringer of seasons and giver of
good gifts, what god of heaven or what mortal man has rapt away
Persephone and pierced with sorrow your dear heart? For I heard
her voice, yet saw not with my eyes who it was. But I tell you
truly and shortly all I know.'
(59-73) So, then, said Hecate. And the daughter of rich-
haired Rhea answered her not, but sped swiftly with her, holding
flaming torches in her hands. So they came to Helios, who is
watchman of both gods and men, and stood in front of his horses:
and the bright goddess enquired of him: `Helios, do you at least
regard me, goddess as I am, if ever by word or deed of mine I
have cheered your heart and spirit. Through the fruitless air I
heard the thrilling cry of my daughter whom I bare, sweet scion
of my body and lovely in form, as of one seized violently; though
with my eyes I saw nothing. But you -- for with your beams you
look down from the bright upper air Over all the earth and sea --
tell me truly of my dear child, if you have seen her anywhere,
what god or mortal man has violently seized her against her will
and mine, and so made off.'
(74-87) So said she. And the Son of Hyperion answered her:
`Queen Demeter, daughter of rich-haired Rhea, I will tell you the
truth; for I greatly reverence and pity you in your grief for
your trim-ankled daughter. None other of the deathless gods is
to blame, but only cloud-gathering Zeus who gave her to Hades,
her father's brother, to be called his buxom wife. And Hades
seized her and took her loudly crying in his chariot down to his
realm of mist and gloom. Yet, goddess, cease your loud lament
and keep not vain anger unrelentingly: Aidoneus, the Ruler of
Many, is no unfitting husband among the deathless gods for your
child, being your own brother and born of the same stock: also,
for honour, he has that third share which he received when
division was made at the first, and is appointed lord of those
among whom he dwells.'
(88-89) So he spake, and called to his horses: and at his
chiding they quickly whirled the swift chariot along, like long-
winged birds.
(90-112) But grief yet more terrible and savage came into the
heart of Demeter, and thereafter she was so angered with the
dark-clouded Son of Cronos that she avoided the gathering of the
gods and high Olympus, and went to the towns and rich fields of
men, disfiguring her form a long while. And no one of men or
deep-bosomed women knew her when they saw her, until she came to
the house of wise Celeus who then was lord of fragrant Eleusis.
Vexed in her dear heart, she sat near the wayside by the Maiden
Well, from which the women of the place were used to draw water,
in a shady place over which grew an olive shrub. And she was
like an ancient woman who is cut off from childbearing and the
gifts of garland-loving Aphrodite, like the nurses of king's
children who deal justice, or like the house-keepers in their
echoing halls. There the daughters of Celeus, son of Eleusis,
saw her, as they were coming for easy-drawn water, to carry it in
pitchers of bronze to their dear father's house: four were they
and like goddesses in the flower of their girlhood, Callidice and
Cleisidice and lovely Demo and Callithoe who was the eldest of
them all. They knew her not, -- for the gods are not easily
discerned by mortals -- but standing near by her spoke winged
words:
(113-117) `Old mother, whence and who are you of folk born
long ago? Why are you gone away from the city and do not draw
near the houses? For there in the shady halls are women of just
such age as you, and others younger; and they would welcome you
both by word and by deed.'
(118-144) Thus they said. And she, that queen among
goddesses answered them saying: `Hail, dear children, whosoever
you are of woman-kind. I will tell you my story; for it is not
unseemly that I should tell you truly what you ask. Doso is my
name, for my stately mother gave it me. And now I am come from
Crete over the sea's wide back, -- not willingly; but pirates
brought be thence by force of strength against my liking.
Afterwards they put in with their swift craft to Thoricus, and
there the women landed on the shore in full throng and the men
likewise, and they began to make ready a meal by the stern-cables
of the ship. But my heart craved not pleasant food, and I fled
secretly across the dark country and escaped by masters, that
they should not take me unpurchased across the sea, there to win
a price for me. And so I wandered and am come here: and I know
not at all what land this is or what people are in it. But may
all those who dwell on Olympus give you husbands and birth of
children as parents desire, so you take pity on me, maidens, and
show me this clearly that I may learn, dear children, to the
house of what man and woman I may go, to work for them cheerfully
at such tasks as belong to a woman of my age. Well could I nurse
a new born child, holding him in my arms, or keep house, or
spread my masters' bed in a recess of the well-built chamber, or
teach the women their work.'
(145-146) So said the goddess. And straightway the unwed
maiden Callidice, goodliest in form of the daughters of Celeus,
answered her and said:
(147-168) `Mother, what the gods send us, we mortals bear
perforce, although we suffer; for they are much stronger than we.
But now I will teach you clearly, telling you the names of men
who have great power and honour here and are chief among the
people, guarding our city's coif of towers by their wisdom and
true judgements: there is wise Triptolemus and Dioclus and
Polyxeinus and blameless Eumolpus and Dolichus and our own brave
father. All these have wives who manage in the house, and no one
of them, so soon as she has seen you, would dishonour you and
turn you from the house, but they will welcome you; for indeed
you are godlike. But if you will, stay here; and we will go to
our father's house and tell Metaneira, our deep-bosomed mother,
all this matter fully, that she may bid you rather come to our
home than search after the houses of others. She has an only
son, late-born, who is being nursed in our well-built house, a
child of many prayers and welcome: if you could bring him up
until he reached the full measure of youth, any one of womankind
who should see you would straightway envy you, such gifts would
our mother give for his upbringing.'
(169-183) So she spake: and the goddess bowed her head in
assent. And they filled their shining vessels with water and
carried them off rejoicing. Quickly they came to their father's
great house and straightway told their mother according as they
had heard and seen. Then she bade them go with all speed and
invite the stranger to come for a measureless hire. As hinds or
heifers in spring time, when sated with pasture, bound about a
meadow, so they, holding up the folds of their lovely garments,
darted down the hollow path, and their hair like a crocus flower
streamed about their shoulders. And they found the good goddess
near the wayside where they had left her before, and led her to
the house of their dear father. And she walked behind,
distressed in her dear heart, with her head veiled and wearing a
dark cloak which waved about the slender feet of the goddess.
(184-211) Soon they came to the house of heaven-nurtured
Celeus and went through the portico to where their queenly mother
sat by a pillar of the close-fitted roof, holding her son, a
tender scion, in her bosom. And the girls ran to her. But the
goddess walked to the threshold: and her head reached the roof
and she filled the doorway with a heavenly radiance. Then awe
and reverence and pale fear took hold of Metaneira, and she rose
up from her couch before Demeter, and bade her be seated. But
Demeter, bringer of seasons and giver of perfect gifts, would not
sit upon the bright couch, but stayed silent with lovely eyes
cast down until careful Iambe placed a jointed seat for her and
threw over it a silvery fleece. Then she sat down and held her
veil in her hands before her face. A long time she sat upon the
stool without speaking because of her sorrow, and greeted no
one by word or by sign, but rested, never smiling, and tasting
neither food nor drink, because she pined with longing for her
deep-bosomed daughter, until careful Iambe -- who pleased her
moods in aftertime also -- moved the holy lady with many a quip
and jest to smile and laugh and cheer her heart. Then Metaneira
filled a cup with sweet wine and offered it to her; but she
refused it, for she said it was not lawful for her to drink red
wine, but bade them mix meal and water with soft mint and give
her to drink. And Metaneira mixed the draught and gave it to the
goddess as she bade. So the great queen Deo received it to
observe the sacrament....
(212-223) And of them all, well-girded Metaneira first began
to speak: `Hail, lady! For I think you are not meanly but nobly
born; truly dignity and grace are conspicuous upon your eyes as
in the eyes of kings that deal justice. Yet we mortals bear
perforce what the gods send us, though we be grieved; for a yoke
is set upon our necks. But now, since you are come here, you
shall have what I can bestow: and nurse me this child whom the
gods gave me in my old age and beyond my hope, a son much prayed
for. If you should bring him up until he reach the full measure
of youth, any one of womankind that sees you will straightway
envy you, so great reward would I give for his upbringing.'
(224-230) Then rich-haired Demeter answered her: `And to you,
also, lady, all hail, and may the gods give you good! Gladly
will I take the boy to my breast, as you bid me, and will nurse
him. Never, I ween, through any heedlessness of his nurse shall
witchcraft hurt him nor yet the Undercutter for I know a
charm far stronger than the Woodcutter, and I know an excellent
safeguard against woeful witchcraft.'
(231-247) When she had so spoken, she took the child in her
fragrant bosom with her divine hands: and his mother was glad in
her heart. So the goddess nursed in the palace Demophoon, wise
Celeus' goodly son whom well-girded Metaneira bare. And the
child grew like some immortal being, not fed with food nor
nourished at the breast: for by day rich-crowned Demeter would
anoint him with ambrosia as if he were the offspring of a god and
breathe sweetly upon him as she held him in her bosom. But at
night she would hide him like a brand in the heard of the fire,
unknown to his dear parents. And it wrought great wonder in
these that he grew beyond his age; for he was like the gods face
to face. And she would have made him deathless and unageing, had
not well-girded Metaneira in her heedlessness kept watch by night
from her sweet-smelling chamber and spied. But she wailed and
smote her two hips, because she feared for her son and was
greatly distraught in her heart; so she lamented and uttered
winged words:
(248-249) `Demophoon, my son, the strange woman buries you
deep in fire and works grief and bitter sorrow for me.'
(250-255) Thus she spoke, mourning. And the bright goddess,
lovely-crowned Demeter, heard her, and was wroth with her. So
with her divine hands she snatched from the fire the dear son
whom Metaneira had born unhoped-for in the palace, and cast him
from her to the ground; for she was terribly angry in her heart.
Forthwith she said to well-girded Metaneira:
(256-274) `Witless are you mortals and dull to foresee your
lot, whether of good or evil, that comes upon you. For now in
your heedlessness you have wrought folly past healing; for -- be
witness the oath of the gods, the relentless water of Styx -- I
would have made your dear son deathless and unaging all his days
and would have bestowed on him everlasting honour, but now he can
in no way escape death and the fates. Yet shall unfailing honour
always rest upon him, because he lay upon my knees and slept in
my arms. But, as the years move round and when he is in his
prime, the sons of the Eleusinians shall ever wage war and dread
strife with one another continually. Lo! I am that Demeter who
has share of honour and is the greatest help and cause of joy to
the undying gods and mortal men. But now, let all the people
build be a great temple and an altar below it and beneath the
city and its sheer wall upon a rising hillock above Callichorus.
And I myself will teach my rites, that hereafter you may
reverently perform them and so win the favour of my heart.'
(275-281) When she had so said, the goddess changed her
stature and her looks, thrusting old age away from her: beauty
spread round about her and a lovely fragrance was wafted from her
sweet-smelling robes, and from the divine body of the goddess a
light shone afar, while golden tresses spread down over her
shoulders, so that the strong house was filled with brightness as
with lightning. And so she went out from the palace.
(281-291) And straightway Metaneira's knees were loosed and
she remained speechless for a long while and did not remember to
take up her late-born son from the ground. But his sisters heard
his pitiful wailing and sprang down from their well-spread beds:
one of them took up the child in her arms and laid him in her
bosom, while another revived the fire, and a third rushed with
soft feet to bring their mother from her fragrant chamber. And
they gathered about the struggling child and washed him,
embracing him lovingly; but he was not comforted, because nurses
and handmaids much less skilful were holding him now.
(292-300) All night long they sought to appease the glorious
goddess, quaking with fear. But, as soon as dawn began to show,
they told powerful Celeus all things without fail, as the lovely-
crowned goddess Demeter charged them. So Celeus called the
countless people to an assembly and bade them make a goodly
temple for rich-haired Demeter and an altar upon the rising
hillock. And they obeyed him right speedily and harkened to his
voice, doing as he commanded. As for the child, he grew like an
immortal being.
(301-320) Now when they had finished building and had drawn
back from their toil, they went every man to his house. But
golden-haired Demeter sat there apart from all the blessed gods
and stayed, wasting with yearning for her deep-bosomed daughter.
Then she caused a most dreadful and cruel year for mankind over
the all-nourishing earth: the ground would not make the seed
sprout, for rich-crowned Demeter kept it hid. In the fields the
oxen drew many a curved plough in vain, and much white barley was
cast upon the land without avail. So she would have destroyed
the whole race of man with cruel famine and have robbed them who
dwell on Olympus of their glorious right of gifts and sacrifices,
had not Zeus perceived and marked this in his heart. First he
sent golden-winged Iris to call rich-haired Demeter, lovely in
form. So he commanded. And she obeyed the dark-clouded Son of
Cronos, and sped with swift feet across the space between. She
came to the stronghold of fragrant Eleusis, and there finding
dark-cloaked Demeter in her temple, spake to her and uttered
winged words:
(321-323) `Demeter, father Zeus, whose wisdom is everlasting,
calls you to come join the tribes of the eternal gods: come
therefore, and let not the message I bring from Zeus pass
unobeyed.'
(324-333) Thus said Iris imploring her. But Demeter's heart
was not moved. Then again the father sent forth all the blessed
and eternal gods besides: and they came, one after the other, and
kept calling her and offering many very beautiful gifts and
whatever right she might be pleased to choose among the deathless
gods. Yet no one was able to persuade her mind and will, so
wrath was she in her heart; but she stubbornly rejected all their
words: for she vowed that she would never set foot on fragrant
Olympus nor let fruit spring out of the ground, until she beheld
with her eyes her own fair-faced daughter.
(334-346) Now when all-seeing Zeus the loud-thunderer heard
this, he sent the Slayer of Argus whose wand is of gold to
Erebus, so that having won over Hades with soft words, he might
lead forth chaste Persephone to the light from the misty gloom to
join the gods, and that her mother might see her with her eyes
and cease from her anger. And Hermes obeyed, and leaving the
house of Olympus, straightway sprang down with speed to the
hidden places of the earth. And he found the lord Hades in his
house seated upon a couch, and his shy mate with him, much
reluctant, because she yearned for her mother. But she was afar
off, brooding on her fell design because of the deeds of the
blessed gods. And the strong Slayer of Argus drew near and said:
(347-356) `Dark-haired Hades, ruler over the departed, father
Zeus bids me bring noble Persephone forth from Erebus unto the
gods, that her mother may see her with her eyes and cease from
her dread anger with the immortals; for now she plans an awful
deed, to destroy the weakly tribes of earthborn men by keeping
seed hidden beneath the earth, and so she makes an end of the
honours of the undying gods. For she keeps fearful anger and
does not consort with the gods, but sits aloof in her fragrant
temple, dwelling in the rocky hold of Eleusis.'
(357-359) So he said. And Aidoneus, ruler over the dead,
smiled grimly and obeyed the behest of Zeus the king. For he
straightway urged wise Persephone, saying:
(360-369) `Go now, Persephone, to your dark-robed mother, go,
and feel kindly in your heart towards me: be not so exceedingly
cast down; for I shall be no unfitting husband for you among the
deathless gods, that am own brother to father Zeus. And while
you are here, you shall rule all that lives and moves and shall
have the greatest rights among the deathless gods: those who
defraud you and do not appease your power with offerings,
reverently performing rites and paying fit gifts, shall be
punished for evermore.'
( 370-383) When he said this, wise Persephone was filled with
joy and hastily sprang up for gladness. But he on his part
secretly gave her sweet pomegranate seed to eat, taking care for
himself that she might not remain continually with grave, dark-
robed Demeter. Then Aidoneus the Ruler of Many openly got ready
his deathless horses beneath the golden chariot. And she mounted
on the chariot, and the strong Slayer of Argos took reins and
whip in his dear hands and drove forth from the hall, the horses
speeding readily. Swiftly they traversed their long course, and
neither the sea nor river-waters nor grassy glens nor mountain-
peaks checked the career of the immortal horses, but they clave
the deep air above them as they went. And Hermes brought them to
the place where rich-crowned Demeter was staying and checked them
before her fragrant temple.
(384-404) And when Demeter saw them, she rushed forth as does
a Maenad down some thick-wooded mountain, while Persephone on the
other side, when she saw her mother's sweet eyes, left the
chariot and horses, and leaped down to run to her, and falling
upon her neck, embraced her. But while Demeter was still holding
her dear child in her arms, her heart suddenly misgave her for
some snare, so that she feared greatly and ceased fondling her
daughter and asked of her at once: `My child, tell me, surely
you have not tasted any food while you were below? Speak out and
hide nothing, but let us both know. For if you have not, you
shall come back from loathly Hades and live with me and your
father, the dark-clouded Son of Cronos and be honoured by all the
deathless gods; but if you have tasted food, you must go back
again beneath the secret places of the earth, there to dwell a
third part of the seasons every year: yet for the two parts you
shall be with me and the other deathless gods. But when the
earth shall bloom with the fragrant flowers of spring in every
kind, then from the realm of darkness and gloom thou shalt come
up once more to be a wonder for gods and mortal men. And now
tell me how he rapt you away to the realm of darkness and gloom,
and by what trick did the strong Host of Many beguile you?'
(405-433) Then beautiful Persephone answered her thus:
'Mother, I will tell you all without error. When luck-bringing
Hermes came, swift messenger from my father the Son of Cronos and
the other Sons of Heaven, bidding me come back from Erebus that
you might see me with your eyes and so cease from your anger and
fearful wrath against the gods, I sprang up at once for joy; but
he secretly put in my mouth sweet food, a pomegranate seed, and
forced me to taste against my will. Also I will tell how he rapt
me away by the deep plan of my father the Son of Cronos and
carried me off beneath the depths of the earth, and will relate
the whole matter as you ask. All we were playing in a lovely
meadow, Leucippe and Phaeno and Electra and Ianthe, Melita
also and Iache with Rhodea and Callirhoe and Melobosis and Tyche
and Ocyrhoe, fair as a flower, Chryseis, Ianeira, Acaste and
Admete and Rhodope and Pluto and charming Calypso; Styx too was
there and Urania and lovely Galaxaura with Pallas who rouses
battles and Artemis delighting in arrows: we were playing and
gathering sweet flowers in our hands, soft crocuses mingled with
irises and hyacinths, and rose-blooms and lilies, marvellous to
see, and the narcissus which the wide earth caused to grow yellow
as a crocus. That I plucked in my joy; but the earth parted
beneath, and there the strong lord, the Host of Many, sprang
forth and in his golden chariot he bore me away, all unwilling,
beneath the earth: then I cried with a shrill cry. All this is
true, sore though it grieves me to tell the tale.'
(434-437) So did they turn, with hearts at one, greatly cheer
each the other's soul and spirit with many an embrace: their
heart had relief from their griefs while each took and gave back
joyousness.
(438-440) Then bright-coiffed Hecate came near to them, and
often did she embrace the daughter of holy Demeter: and from that
time the lady Hecate was minister and companion to Persephone.
(441-459) And all-seeing Zeus sent a messenger to them, rich-
haired Rhea, to bring dark-cloaked Demeter to join the families
of the gods: and he promised to give her what right she should
choose among the deathless gods and agreed that her daughter
should go down for the third part of the circling year to
darkness and gloom, but for the two parts should live with her
mother and the other deathless gods. Thus he commanded. And the
goddess did not disobey the message of Zeus; swiftly she rushed
down from the peaks of Olympus and came to the plain of Rharus,
rich, fertile corn-land once, but then in nowise fruitful, for it
lay idle and utterly leafless, because the white grains was
hidden by design of trim-ankled Demeter. But afterwards, as
springtime waxed, it was soon to be waving with long ears of
corn, and its rich furrows to be loaded with grain upon the
ground, while others would already be bound in sheaves. There
first she landed from the fruitless upper air: and glad were the
goddesses to see each other and cheered in heart. Then bright-
coiffed Rhea said to Demeter:
(460-469) `Come, my daughter; for far-seeing Zeus the loud-
thunderer calls you to join the families of the gods, and has
promised to give you what rights you please among the deathless
gods, and has agreed that for a third part of the circling year
your daughter shall go down to darkness and gloom, but for the
two parts shall be with you and the other deathless gods: so has
he declared it shall be and has bowed his head in token. But
come, my child, obey, and be not too angry unrelentingly with the
dark-clouded Son of Cronos; but rather increase forthwith for men
the fruit that gives them life.'
(470-482) So spake Rhea. And rich-crowned Demeter did not
refuse but straightway made fruit to spring up from the rich
lands, so that the whole wide earth was laden with leaves and
flowers. Then she went, and to the kings who deal justice,
Triptolemus and Diocles, the horse-driver, and to doughty
Eumolpus and Celeus, leader of the people, she showed the conduct
of her rites and taught them all her mysteries, to Triptolemus
and Polyxeinus and Diocles also, -- awful mysteries which no one
may in any way transgress or pry into or utter, for deep awe of
the gods checks the voice. Happy is he among men upon earth who
has seen these mysteries; but he who is uninitiate and who has no
part in them, never has lot of like good things once he is dead,
down in the darkness and gloom.
(483-489) But when the bright goddess had taught them all,
they went to Olympus to the gathering of the other gods. And
there they dwell beside Zeus who delights in thunder, awful and
reverend goddesses. Right blessed is he among men on earth whom
they freely love: soon they do send Plutus as guest to his great
house, Plutus who gives wealth to mortal men.
(490-495) And now, queen of the land of sweet Eleusis and
sea-girt Paros and rocky Antron, lady, giver of good gifts,
bringer of seasons, queen Deo, be gracious, you and your daughter
all beauteous Persephone, and for my song grant me heart-cheering
substance. And now I will remember you and another song also.
More to come!
