So-called Ceres
So-called Ceres
3D
Published 2019-01-10T16:29:55+00:00
In ancient Roman religion, Ceres, a goddess of agriculture, grain crops, fertility and motherly relationships. She was originally the central deity in Rome's so-called plebeian or Aventine Triad, then was paired with her daughter Proserpina in what Romans described as "the Greek rites of Ceres". Her seven-day April festival of Cerealia included the popular Ludi Ceriales (Ceres' games). She was also honoured in the May illustration of the fields at the Ambarvalia festival, at harvest-time, and during Roman marriages and funeral rites.
Ceres is the only one of Rome's many agricultural deities to be listed among the Dii Consentes, Rome's equivalent to the Twelve Olympians of Greek mythology. The Romans saw her as the counterpart of the Greek goddess Demeter, whose mythology was reinterpreted for Ceres in Roman art and literature.
| Date published | 10/01/2019 |
| Title | So-called Ceres |
| Date | 1st century AD |
| Accession | 6263 |
| Medium | Marble |
| Artist | Unknown artist |
| Place | Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli |
