Biography Ceres

Ceres – Roman goddess, belongs to the ancient gods of Rome (he will be referred to. Di indigetes). Its primary function – protection of crops in all aspects of its development, so the earliest the cult of its most closely associated with the cult is even more ancient goddess Tellus (earth). In the oldest representations of Rome cult goddess of the earth was filled with the foundations of Roman animist worldview, the cult of souls (manes) – and this has caused the observed and the cult TS. more animistic nature. Festivities in honor of Tellus and Ts fell on particularly important in agriculture today. These feriae sementivae, on the occasion of sowing: it – mobile holiday, depending on the time of sowing. Early sowing is worth the sacrifice of Tellus and Ts perpetrated flamen Cerialis, where TS. called for under 12 different names, according to various points of field work. April 19 celebrated Cerialia, on the occasion of Tellus-Fordicidia (April 15).. At the beginning of the harvest is arranged once again sacrifice in honor of the same goddess, with the gift TS. are first short ears (rgaemetium). In all ceremonies, played a prominent role sacrificing tional animals – cows and pigs. According to the Roman anna 496, BC Chr. about crop failures and stop the delivery of grain to neighboring countries in Rome had been promised, and thereupon built the temple of the Eleusinian triad: Demeter, Dionysus, and Kore, the Greek model and the Greek masters. This fact (the question can only be in its date) is in connection with Greek imports, material and ideal, of Southern Italy and Sicily. This relationship is even more clear if we take into account that emerged then became the temple cult and concentrate political Roman plebs – medium commercial development of Rome. The new church was archive plebs, plebeian aediles and received its name thanks to his ancestral connection with the aedes new gods. New gods, however, the transition to Rome changed their names: the main goddess of the triad, Demeter, merged with C.; Dionysos and Cora got the names of the Liber, and Libera. Predominant role in the triad and Rome played Ceres; her name was called Temple abbreviated aedes Cereris, her feast day (April 19). Was Feast of the triad, sacerdotes pablicae Cereris populi Romani Quiritium called her priestesses and priestesses of the triad, triad, were celebrated in honor of the game, received the name of ludi Ceriales. As one of the ancient Greek goddesses, to TS. abut keepers Greek cults in Rome and the Sibylline books – kvindetsemviry sacris faciundis. At the time of the Second Punic War, we hear about the festival in honor of TS. purely Greek and mystical sample (anniversarium Cereris). Participation in this festival took only matrons, he was in celebration of the marriage of Pluto and Proserpiny (orci nuptiae), accompanied by a number of purely Greek ceremonies and abstinence from food and marital relations (castus Cereris). The same post (ieiunium) coped with the 191, at the redemption heavy signs, each year on October 4. September 13 in honor of TS. coped lektisterny; December 21 she sacrificed together with Hercules, which played an important role porosnaya pig. In imperial times TS. was the same goddess of rural life, and how the goddess of grain supply, approaching this with the goddess Hanun. Of the province it is particularly revered hlebonosnaya Africa.