Discover the Divine: Top 11 Entertaining and Enlightening Facts about Ceres, the Goddess of Agriculture!

1. Queen of Harvest and Hipster Avocado Toast

Before there was Insta-worthy #BrunchGoals, there was the OG Queen of Harvest and Hipster Avocado Toast: Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture and fertility: Often depicted in ancient Roman art holding a cornucopia, a symbol of abundance and plenty, Ceres was crucial to Rome's well-being, with her festivals celebrated far and wide.
Source => royalacademy.org.uk

2. Blade-Wielding Farm Fashion Goddess

Before there was an "eat your Wheaties" mantra and the 5-a-day fruit and veg campaigns, there was an ancient Roman goddess with a penchant for blade-wielding farm fashion: Ceres, often depicted holding a sickle, represented agricultural growth, protection, and harvest, and was even the guest of honor during the Cerealia festival packed with games and rituals dedicated to both her and her daughter Proserpina.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

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3. Divine Cleanup Crew and Good Grains

Next time you make an oopsie with the Wheat Thins and spill your cereal, don't fret - just call upon the divine cleanup crew, led by none other than the goddess of good grains herself: Ceres, the Roman deity responsible for agriculture, grain crops, fertility, and motherly relationships, was so well-respected that she even had her own temple in the Roman Forum, and is often depicted wielding a cornucopia of abundance and either a scepter or torch as a symbol of her authority.
Source => thecollector.com

4. Ceres: Rome's Original "Mother of Grain"

Farm funnies no one's heard of: Ceres, Rome's original "Mother of Grain," was famous for reigning over the wheat fields before gluten-free diets were all the rage, and was the sole agricultural deity among the posh party known as the Dii Consentes - Rome's answer to Greek's Twelve Olympians: Truly the original goddess of agriculture, grain crops, fertility, and motherhood, Ceres was worshipped at notable Roman festivals, such as Cerealia and Ambarvalia, and was so bread-obsessed that her name was veritably baked into people's daily loaf affairs during the Roman era.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. A Mother of a Custody Battle

Talk about a mother of a custody battle: Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, had to split the year with her ex, Pluto, god of the underworld, after he abducted their daughter Proserpina. The divine compromise resulted in Proserpina chilling six months in the underworld (winter) and the other six living it up with her mom (summer) – thus explaining the changing of the seasons.
Source => sciweb.nybg.org

6. Ceres: "Farm-er's Got Talent" Queen

If Ceres were on TV today, she'd be the queen of "Farm-er's Got Talent," but instead of winning hearts with her singing, she'd be charming the heavens to ensure Earth's next leading harvest: Ceres, the ancient Roman goddess of agriculture, ruled over plowing, sowing, and nurturing seeds, and had to be placated through an annual Roman festival, the Cerialia, which included horse races, circus games, and theatrics to make sure the growth and harvest seasons were fruitful and divine.
Source => vindolanda.com

7. Foxes with Flaming Tails Celebration

You know the saying "like a fox with a torch tied to its tail?" Well, that's how ancient Romans celebrated the goddess Ceres: During the Festival of Cerialia, foxes with flaming tails were released in the Circus Maximus to symbolize the protection of crops from pests and disease, as well as to represent the warmth and vigor needed for growth. Horse races, circus games, and theatrical events also accompanied this fiery display as dedicated plebeian aediles made Cerialia an annual event for the Forum Boarium and Circus Maximus.
Source => vindolanda.com

8. Ceres: Goddess of Agri-Culture and Raves

Even Lady Gaga would be jealous of the goddess Ceres who wove agriculture, politics, and raves into her divine résumé: Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture and fertility, oversaw the elected officials called the tribunes, protected common folk, and was celebrated yearly with the wild party that was the Cerealia, featuring circus games and races in the Circus Maximus.
Source => mythopedia.com

9. Ceres: Origin of the Term "Cereal"

Ever considered investing in the goddess of agri-culture, or perhaps just a bowl of cereal? The word on the Roman grapevine is that Ceres is responsible for the very term "cereal": The temple of Ceres, Liber, and Libera in Rome, dedicated in 493 BC, was not only a divine hotspot but also a political nucleus for the plebeians fighting for their rights against the patricians, and a treasure trove of exquisite artwork that's still admired today.
Source => kids.britannica.com

10. Bumper Sticker-Worthy Mother of Plants

If Ceres were a modern-day mom, she'd be sporting a "Mother of All Things Green and Growing" bumper sticker on her celestial minivan: In ancient Roman mythology, Ceres was the goddess of agriculture, grain crops, and fertility, playing a crucial role in the growth and nourishment of plant and animal life. As one of the Dii Consentes, Rome's top twelve deities, she was highly respected for her protection of plebeian rights and motherly relationships, and was celebrated in festivals like the Cerealia and Ambarvalia with horse races, torches, and foxes.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. Ceres: Bacon-Loving Goddess of Agriculture

While some might say "don't go bacon my heart" to our porcine companions, Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, would wholeheartedly disagree: She was known to be quite fond of pigs as her sacred animal and could often be seen holding a bundle of wheat or corn, which symbolized her role in fertility and agriculture. You can find her immortalized in black basanite at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence—a volcanic rock as powerful as her affinity for harvest festivals!
Source => claireintheworld.net