Saturday, November 6, 2010

Hestia & Demeter

Hestia/Vesta

She was Zeus's sister, and like Athena and Artemis a virgin goddess. She has no distinct personality and she plays no part in the myths. She was the Goddess of the Hearth, the symbol of the home, around which the newborn child must be carried before it could be received into the family. Every meal began and ended with an offering to her.
--Edith Hamilton (36)

Hestia: p. 36



Demeter/Ceres

Demeter, in Latin Ceres, the Goddess of the Corn, a daughter of Cronus and Rhea.
--Edith Hamilton (48)

Demeter: p.p. 51-55

cf: The Two Great Gods of Earth: p.p. 48-50

Hade/Pluto


He was unpitying, inexorable, but just; a terrible, not an evil god.
His wife was Persephone (Proserpine) whom he carried away from the earth and made Queen of the Lower World.
--Edith Hamilton (29)

Hades (the god): p. 29
Hades (the Underworld): p.p. 39-40

Poseidon/Neptune


He was commonly called "Earth-shaker" and was always shown carrying his trident, a three-pronged spear, with which he would shake and shatter whatever he pleased.
--Edith Hamilton (29)


Poseidon: p.p. 28-29
Amphitrite: p. 39
Coronis (& Apollo): p.p. 293-294
Amymone: p. 302