Ceres Roman goddess Facts & Worksheets

Ceres was a goddess of agriculture, grain crops, fertility, and maternal bonds in the religion of the ancient Romans. Rome had many agricultural goddesses, but only Ceres was included in the Dii Consentes, Rome’s version of the Twelve Olympians of Greek mythology. The Greek goddess, Demeter’s mythology, was recreated for Ceres in Roman art and literature, and the Romans saw her as Demeter’s counterpart.

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Key Facts & Information

ETYMOLOGY

• The closest Latin equivalent, crescere, has a similar meaning: “to grow, to arise, or to come to be.” The name “Ceres” has been linked to the Proto-Indo-European root kerh-, which means “to nourish, satiate, or feed.“
• The words “cereal” and “céréale,” both used to denote types of grass that produce edible grain as well as the edible grains themselves, derive from the name Ceres.
• The poet Virgil called Ceres Ceres Legifera, or “Ceres the Law-Bearing,” an allusion to her function as a bringer of peace, in addition to her given name. Ceres was also known as Ceres Augusta, which translates as “Ceres the Great” or “Ceres the Awesome.”

ATTRIBUTES

• Ceres was in charge of agriculture and ensured the annual crops were plentiful.
• Ceres, typically depicted as an adult female of childbearing age, was generally assumed to be a young woman. 
• Ceres occasionally carried a light and a staff, which served as signs of her authority. The latter is a representation of awakening as well as an allusion to her quest to find her daughter Proserpina. She was frequently seen pushing a plow and clutching grains of wheat (or another cereal crop).
• On the Aventine Hill, one of the Seven Hills of ancient Rome, stood a temple dedicated to the goddess Ceres.  
• Her commemoration, the Cerealia, was observed on 19 April.  Ambarvalia, a Roman agricultural fertility ritual celebrated at the end of May, was another special time for Ceres. 

FAMILY

• Ceres was the daughter of Ops, a representation of the earth, and Saturn, the cosmic god who ruled before Jupiter. 
• Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto, and other gods of the sea and the underworld were among her brothers. Her sisters were Juno, the motherly queen of the Roman gods, and Vesta, the goddess of the hearth and household.
• Ceres was not known for being a particularly passionate goddess, but she engaged in at least one affair and gave birth to her only child, a daughter named Proserpina. Proserpina was admired for her grace and virtue. Jupiter, the brother of Ceres and infamous for his numerous affairs, was Proserpina’s father.

MYTHOLOGY

• The early days of time, when the earliest gods and Titans were attempting to bring order to a chaotic planet, can be seen as the origin of Ceres. At the beginning of time, the universe was ruled by a god (or Titan) named Caelus. Saturn eventually toppled Caelus and seized the sovereignty of the universe for himself.
• Saturn eventually married Ops, the goddess of the earth element, and they had six children. Saturn learned of a prophecy that stated one of his offspring would overthrow him in the same way that he had overthrown Caelus while the children developed inside Ops’ womb.
• Saturn ate his first five children, including Ceres, as soon as they were born because he was unsure of the identity of the usurper.
• Ops fooled Saturn into eating a rock dressed in swaddling clothes instead of her last kid, Jupiter, in an effort to protect her offspring. Saturn puked the entire contents of his stomach back into the world since he was unable to digest the rock.
• Ceres was now free, together with her siblings Pluto, Neptune, Juno, and Vesta. The twin gods established order in the cosmos along with their brother Jupiter.

CERES, ROMAN GODDESS WITH THE COMMONERS

• The only goddess who actively participated in everyday life among the plebeians (the common people) was Ceres. 
• Other Roman deities only occasionally had any connection to
  everyday life, unlike Ceres, who was truly a nurturer of humans.

ABDUCTION OF PROSERPINA

• Pluto, who ruled the underworld, was alone most of the time and felt lonely. Venus, the goddess of lust and sexuality, sent her son Cupid to visit Pluto. Pluto was finally able to experience the passion and lust he had been denied for so long after Cupid shot his arrows at him. On his subsequent visit to Earth, he saw Proserpina having fun with a group of nymphs on the island of Sicily. Pluto snatched the young woman in an instant, escorting her to the underworld on his chariot.
• Ceres embarked on a hunt for the missing girl after losing her daughter and being devastated by the circumstances. Despite her extensive travels and use of a torch to aid with her vision, she was unable to find anything. Ceres eventually traveled to Sicily, where she discovered Proserpina’s belt crafted from the beautiful tears of nymphs. She cursed Sicily in her heartbroken rage, destroying its harvests and their fields.
• The other gods and goddesses watching from above understood that Ceres’ sorrow needed to be allayed. Jupiter took advantage of the opportunity and dispatched Mercury to tell Pluto that Proserpina must be quickly released and brought safely back to her mother. Pluto agreed to Jupiter’s conditions but added that he would only give Proserpina back if she refrained from eating food from the underworld. Pluto refused to free the girl because Proserpina had consumed seven pomegranate seeds from the fruit in his underground garden.
• Proserpina would split her time between her mother and Pluto, according to a deal. She spent time with Pluto during the winter, when Ceres was too enraged and heartbroken to enable living things to bloom. The return of Proserpina to the world occurred in the spring.

ROMAN STATE RELIGION

• Before the widespread adoption of Christianity in the fourth century CE, Ceres was the primary deity worshipped by the Romans. A priest known as the Flamen Cerialis oversaw Ceres’s annual religious observance.
• The goddess of agriculture was honored by the Romans during a number of festivals. 
• Feriae Sementivae was one of these events, which began every February 2, heralded the start of the planting season, and included sacrifices made in Ceres’ honor. 
• Romans would sacrifice a pregnant sow to the goddess after a grain propitiatory offering. In the hope that Ceres would bless their crops and bring them good fortune during the planting season, the Romans offered these offerings.
• The Cerealia, a wild celebration conducted every April when the crops were bursting with new life, was the Romans’ primary Ceres celebration.
• The Circus Maximus, a massive Roman racetrack that ended beneath the Temple of Ceres on the Aventine Hill, hosted circus games and competitions during the Cerealia. 
• The Cerealia was primarily a plebeian event planned by plebeian magistrates and distinguished by indulgence. Foxes with torches tied to their tails were released into the Circus Maximus to cap off the performance.

Ceres Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Ceres (Roman goddess) across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Ceres. Ceres was a goddess of agriculture, grain crops, fertility, and maternal bonds in the religion of the ancient Romans.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Ceres (Roman Goddess) Facts
2. Symbols of Ceres
3. May the Force be with Ceres
4. In the Name of Ceres
5. The Four Seasons
6. Ceres and the Plebeians
7. On the Throne
8. Ceres in Outer space
9. The Family Tree
10. Twinning
11. Ceres, the Roman Goddess

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Ceres in Roman mythology?

Ceres is the Roman goddess of agriculture, grain crops, fertility, and motherly love. She is equivalent to the Greek goddess Demeter.

What are the symbols associated with Ceres?

Ceres is often depicted holding a torch or a sheaf of wheat, symbolizing her role as a goddess of agriculture. She is also associated with a cornucopia, a horn-shaped basket filled with abundant harvest.

What is the significance of Ceres in Roman society?

Ceres held great importance in Roman society as she was responsible for ensuring a bountiful harvest and the well-being of agricultural communities. Her worship played a crucial role in the agricultural cycle and was central to Roman agricultural festivals.

Are there any myths or stories associated with Ceres?

One of the most well-known myths involving Ceres is the abduction of her daughter, Proserpina (also known as Persephone), by the god Pluto (Hades). Ceres searched tirelessly for her daughter and her grief caused the earth to become barren until Proserpina was eventually allowed to spend part of the year with her mother, leading to the cycle of seasons.

Where was Ceres worshipped in ancient Rome?

Ceres had several temples and sanctuaries dedicated to her worship throughout ancient Rome. The most prominent temple dedicated to Ceres was the Temple of Ceres, located on the Aventine Hill in Rome. This temple served as the center for her worship and hosted various festivals and rituals related to agriculture and fertility.

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