The Homeric Hymn to Demeter
The Homeric Hymn to Demeter tells the story of Demeter's journey to retrieve her daughter Persephone after being kidnapped by the Lord of the Underworld, Hades. 1 It is attributed to Homer and thought to be written in the early 6th or late 7th-century BCE. 1 The Hymn aids our understanding of the religious and psychological world that ancient Greek women lived in and experienced, and how it corresponds to its influence in the modern world. 1 In this post, we will look at the content, themes, and style of the Homeric Hymn to Demeter , the roles that Demeter and Persephone played in Greek religion, and the connections between the Hymn and religious practices. The Roles of Persephone and Demeter in Greek Religion In ancient Greek society, a woman’s maturation was considered an important milestone. The saying “brides of Hades” arose to refer to young girls who passed away before marriage. 7 To protect the journey into womanhood, many...