Ceres
Roman Goddess of Grain


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Ceres is the Roman goddess of crops and abundance. Poppies are a symbol of Ceres because wild poppies grew in the grain fields. Grain could also be a symbol of Ceres because she is the goddess of agriculture and is often carrying wheat when depicted in pictures. The word cereal comes from Ceres because she is the goddess of grain. Ceres is also the name of a dwarf planet that is located in the asteroid belt. Saturn and Ops were her parents. Jupiter was her brother and her husband. Her daughter was Proserpine.

Pluto loved Ceres\'s daughter so he took her to the underworld. Ceres was unable to find Proserpine. Ceres was upset so she did not allow the crops to grow, and people died of starvation. Pluto eventually admitted that he was the one who had taken Proserpine away. Proserpine could only go back to her home if she didn\'t eat any of the food of the dead, but she ate six pomegranate seeds while she was in the underworld. She was allowed to go home, but she had to be with Pluto for six months each year. Ceres stops growing plants when Proserpine leaves, and winter comes.
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This page was edited by Lisa Hartzell (Teacher: Carol Zortman) using Web Poster Wizard.