Saturday, October 6, 2012

Sicily: Cults of Demeter and Persephone


The Sanctuary of Demeter and Persephone at Morgantina, Getty Villa Exhibit

Many people recognize the story of Demeter and Persephone as the Ancient Greek explanation of seasons, but few people think about their importance outside of the Aegean. In Sicily, Demeter and Persephone were part of the structure of Sicilian dominance throughout the Mediterranean. Sicily was a well-known land for its fertility and central location, so naturally cults to gods (and goddesses) of fertility came naturally. Grain was the main agricultural product, so Demeter was the obvious choice. Sicily is also the mythical location of the reemergence of Persephone from Hades. Sicily is also connected to the underworld through Mt. Etna, which was believed to be a gateway to Tartarus where the enemy of Zeus Typhon was imprisoned.

Sanctuary to Chthonic Divinities, Agrigento
Cults throughout Sicily were dedicated to Chthonic (underworld or earthly) divinities like Aetna (the personification of Mt. Etna), Demeter, Persephone, Hades, and other spirits of the underworld. Demeter represented the fertility of the grain, and her daughter (sometimes also called simply Kore, "the maiden") was the mistress of death. As anyone with Sicilian relatives can tell you, Sicilian women are natural matriarchs, so it is also possible that a mother-daughter cult has long played a central role in Sicilian culture.

"Women Gossiping"; British Museum