| Summary: | <p>Ancient Age women were in a social order in which they do not have<br />any legal rights nor a social status. On the contrary, these women are also at<br />the forefront in the religious activities. Even some cults were exclusively open<br />for only women. The best example for this is the rituals, which were done in<br />the name of Demeter.<br />The name of Goddess of Earth and fertility –Demeter- originates from the<br />“Gemeter” that means the Mother Earth. She is from the second generation<br />of gods and goddesses and daughter of Kronos and Rhea. The offspring of her<br />relationship with Zeus who is also her brother is called Kore or Persephone. In<br />the structural context, Demeter is a derivation of Earth and fertility goddesses<br />of Neolithic times.<br />The Daughter of Demeter Kore-Persephone was kidnapped by Hades and<br />became the Goddess of underworld. The original name of the goddess was<br />Kore, which means the “daughter”. Hades named her “Persephone” after she<br />became the goddess of the underworld.<br />The mysteries’ of the Demeter were taped to the myth of Demeter and her<br />daughter Persephone. The time Demeter remains separated from Persephone<br />was perceived as winter while the time when she meets Persephone was<br />perceived as spring.<br />Thesmophoria is one of the religious rituals, which were organized for<br />Demeter. Swine sacrificing, fast and purifications were the main rituals of<br />Thesmophoria.</p>
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