Demeter is the Goddess of agriculture. She is the daughter of Kronos and Rhea and sister and wife of Zeus. Poseidon was in love with Demeter but she never reciprocated back.

Demeter is not among the top Goddess in Greek mythology. She was one of the many children who was swallowed by her father basis the prophecy which said that one of Kronos’ children would be the reason for his debacle. Persephone is the daughter of Demeter and Zeus. Hades took help from Mother Earth- Gaia and kidnapped Persephone. Later Persephone was rescued by Demeter.

Demeter is often pictured as a mature woman sitting on a throne. She wears a crown and carries a torch or sheaves of wheat. She is believed to be the creator of the first grain in Sicily and then she ensured that the knowledge of harvesting is spread across the world. Whenever Demeter travels, she rides a golden chariot which is pulled by dragons. Demeter’s symbols include wheat, a cornucopia, a torch and swine. She had control over the harvest and the growing of grains. She can cause plants to grow, or not grow, and has control over the seasons and weather too.

Demeter is known to be short-tempered and can get angry very quickly. There are many stories of her punishing the guilty. It is believed that Demeter transformed Ascalabus into a gecko when he mocked at her for drinking water too fast. She also is said to have turned King Lyncus into a lynx after he tried to kill one of her favourite mortals.

She also rewarded the ones with whom she was happy. One mortal called Phytalus welcomed the disguised Demeter to his house and was rewarded with a fig tree. Two other mortals were rewarded with fresh crops due to their good hospitality. Hence some of the lesser known myths also link her as the Goddess of Law and Order.