Archetype In Greek Mythology

Mother earth goddesses are important archetypes in Greek mythology. The two mother earth goddesses, Gaia and Demeter are somewhat similar but are interpreted in distinct ways that offers some explanations of the universe today. In her myth, Gaia is interpreted as a feminist, who is the Earth itself and it is from her that all life is sprang. Demeter is interpreted using the etiological approach. Demeter was the mother of nature because she was associated with the fertility of Earth. These two deities are the epitome of mother earth goddesses who are crafty, intelligent and passive.

Gaia was born from Chaos and was the first deity who was a woman. She was the living embodiment of a feminine archetype. She did not just create Earth, she is the

She was associated with corn and she symbolized the fertility of Earth. Demeter’s myth is interpreted using etiological approach because it explains the origin of natural events. Demeter had a daughter, Persephone, who was goddess of spring and harvest. One day as she was picking flowers, her uncle Hades kidnaps and brings her to the underworld by Zeus’s will. Hades was the god of the dead and was the older brother of Zeus. When Demeter heard her daughter’s screams, she frantically searched for her for Persephone for nine days where she did not eat, drink or bathe. She roamed the earth holding torches in her hands. After she found out Hades took Persephone to the underworld, she refused to let any plants grow until her daughter is back. This resulted in mortals dying and causing trouble to the many gods. Then Demeter and Hades made a compromise that Persephone can visit her mother but eventually has to go back to the underworld. This explains the reason why crops don’t grow in certain seasons. When Persephone is in the underworld, plants don’t grow and winter comes. In contrast when the plants start to grow in the spring, she comes out into the earth. The myth of Demeter and Persephone can also be interpreted as Persephone becoming a woman and eventually marrying Hades.

The myth of Demeter is important because it also talks about the Eleusinian Mysteries, which is a religious ritual performed by the ancient Greeks “who wished