To
avoid this prophecy, Zeus swallowed the infant whole just as Metis was about to
give birth. He soon had a very bad headache, so Hephaestus took a double-sided
axe and split his skull open and Athena came out fully-grown and fully armored.
Athena won the city of Athens in a contest with Poseidon. The rules were simple;
who ever could produce the best gift for mankind would win. Poseidon created a
horse out of rock, while Athena caused an olive tree to grow. The judges
declared that the olive tree was most useful and hence she won the city. As a
warlike goddess she was protector of many heroes and towns. Her animal familiar
was the watch owl.
Minerva was the Roman Goddess of Craft and Trade, including
the intellect on how to do the particular craft. Together with Juno and Jupiter
she was one of the great Capitoline triad and was introduced to Rome by an
Etruscan contingent, which came to aid Romulus. Minerva’s festival was
celebrated on March Nineteenth. Demeter was the sister of Zeus and one of the
five children that was eaten by Cronus. Demeter was the God of Fertility, and
often referred to as the essential mother. Demeter had a baby girl by the name
of Persephone. Her father was Zeus, Hera’s husband as well as Demeter’s brother.
Hades kidnapped Persephone and took her to the Underworld with him. After
searching everywhere for her lost daughter, Helios the God of the Sun, told her
he saw what had happened. She vowed not to return to the gods or continue any of
her tasks till her daughter was returned. Demeter went to Zeus and demanded that
her daughter be returned from the Underworld. Zeus agreed under the condition
that she had not eaten anything while she was down there. Zeus then found out
she had eaten something, and told Demeter that he could not bring her back from
the Underworld. When she found out she withdrew her support of earth and
mankind. Demeter caused the fields to become unfertile, and finally a deadlock
was reached. Soon a compromise was reached between Demeter, Zeus, and Hades.
Persephone would be allowed to earth during the spring, but she would be
required to return to the Underworld during the winter. Ceres, the God of Corn
and Harvest, is the Roman equivalent to the Greek Goddess Demeter. She shares
all the same legends and stories.
Bibliography
BIBILIOGRAPHY Clayton, Peter. Great Figures of Mythology. Brompton Books Corp.
NY, NY. 1990. Pinset, John. Greek Mythology. Peter Bedrick Books. NY. 1982.
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