Homeric Hymn to Demeter

• Classical Civilisation
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• GCSE

Homeric Hymn to Demeter

The Homeric Hymn to Demeter was one of 33 poems dedicated to the gods, including Heracles. The poems are called ‘Homeric’ as they share a similar style to the epics of Homer. However, if Homer actually composed them or not is unknown. With this in mind, for our purposes, we will refer to the poet as Homer.

Homeric Hymn to Demeter

What seems certain is that, like the other works of Homer, the poems were part of an oral tradition, and they would have been sung to audiences across the Greek world. For this reason, scholars have dated the poems to the seventh and sixth centuries BC. In oral poetry stock phrases, or epithets, would have been used to identify characters. In the Hymn to Demeter, the goddess is called ‘Demeter with the lovely hair’ and Persephone, he daughter with ‘the slender ankles’.

Themes

There are two main themes in the hymn to Demeter; the relationship between the gods, and the relationship between gods and men. The poem cleverly explores the nature of the gods. Although they existed separately from men, they experienced all the same emotions, such as love, hate, loss and fear. However, their actions could have disastrous consequences for men (such as when Demeter retires to her temple and nothing grew).

I begin to sing of beautiful-haired Demeter, holy goddess – of her and her delicate-ankled daughter whom Hades snatched away, her having been given to him by far-seeing Zeus the loud-thunderer.

In this first sentence, there are three epithets: what are they?
Challenge: What do they say about the characters

"the narcissus; which Earth made to grow at the will of Zeus and to please Hades, as a snare for the bloom-like girl."
What does this tell you about the Greek gods?

Hades in his chariot!

He seized her against her will ... nor even did the rich fruit-bearing olive-trees.

How is this passage dramatic? Make at least one point.

She was being taken against her will, at the suggestion of Zeus, by her father’s brother with his immortal horses; Ruler of Many, Host of Many, Cronos’ many-named son.
What does this tell us about the gods?

A sharp pain seized her heart ... like a bird of prey over land and sea.

Why is this passage effective? Make at least 1 point.

What information does Hecate give Demeter?

What epithets does Helios use to address Demeter?

What information does Helios give Demeter?

How does he justify what happened to Persephone?

As well as her daughter being taken away, what else do you think Demeter objected to?

What does Demeter's reaction tell us about the nature of the Greek gods?

She made the grimmest and most brutal year for men on the all-nourishing earth.

What does this tell us about the Greek gods?

Why do you think Zeus is worried?
(Hint: it's not because he feels bad!)

What did Zeus do to try and persuade Demeter?

What does Demeter's reaction to all the gods tell us about her?

"She asserted that ... own eyes her fair-eyed girl."
What does this tell us about the gods?

What does the interaction between Zeus and Hermes tell us about the gods?

How does Hermes persuade Hades to let Persephone go? What does this tell us about the gods?

What does Hades say about the worship of Persephone?

What does this tell us about the gods?

What does Hades do before she leaves?

She, however, holding her dear child in her own arms, suddenly suspected some trick in her heart.
What does this tell us about the gods?

What does Demeter say will happen if Persephone has eaten food in the Underworld?

Why do you think Homer repeats the story here?

How does Persephone's story make you feel? Give an example from the text.

What does Demeter and Persephone's relationship tell us about the gods?

What two epithets are used for Zeus now?

What agreement do they come to?

What natural phenomenon does this myth explain?