The Importance Of Zeus's Role In The Hymm To Demeter

The Ancient Greek myth of Demeter and the kidnapping of her daughter, Persephone, is most popularly associated with the Greek aetiology for the seasons. Though this explanation is an important premise in the hymn, the story also illuminates a fiercely devoted mother-daughter relationship. In the context of other ancient Greek works, such as the Odyssey and Illiad, the hymn displays feminist themes rare in heroic, male dominated literature. The Hymm to Demeter illustrates feminism through maintaining focus on a strong, supportive female relationship where men play a peripheral role.
Male gods play only a troublesome role in the story and fail to take away the focus from the female relationship. Zeus plays an important, but marginal, role. Helios

Moreover, Hades also plays a small role when, “the god himself, stealthily looking around him, gave [Persephone] a sweet pomegranate seed to eat, and he did this so that she might not abide forever beside revered Demeter for the dark mantle” (360-363). Both Hades and Zeus play problematic roles that threaten Demeter and Persephone’s relationship. Both gods make an important decision that affects Demeter and Persephone, he they do not play a direct role in the story. Zeus merely acts as a catalyst that causes Demeter to begin the search for her daughter, which remains the main focus of the story. Demeter does not dwell on her anger for Zeus or focus her emotions towards his actions, but focuses all of her energy towards Persephone and herself. As a result, even Zeus does not manage to distract from the intensity of Demeter and Persephone’s relationship. Hades plays an important role by ensuring that

After Persephone returns to earth, her mother establishes the cult of Demeter and she teaches the mysteries, which were initiation ceremonies and secret rituals, to the Eleusinians. The author states, “Come Lady Deo, Queen, giver of fine gifts, bringer of the seasons! Come with your daughter, beautiful Persephone, and of your grace grant me fine substance in requital of my song” (492-495). The initiation, open to all that could speak Greek, was believed by the Eleusinians to offer reward in the underworld. The Elusinians worshipped Demeter and Persephone and prayed for fertility and agriculture. The mother-daughter relationship being at the heart of the religious experience is significant beause it shows that women had control over