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The Name of Demeter Thesmophoros.

The article discusses the titles that are associated to Demeter Thesmophoros. It is stated that Demeter is characterized by many titles in cult inscriptions and mythological literature. It is said that most of Demeter's cult epithets fall into one of two categories. One is she is a giver of mystic r...

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Published in:Greek, Roman & Byzantine Studies Vol. 48; no. 2; pp. 115 - 132
Main Author: Stallsmith, Allaire B.
Format: Article
Published: Duke University Summer2008
Subjects:
Epithets
Antonomasia
Names
Study & teaching of Greek literature
Inscriptions
Greek philology
Greek language
Inscriptions in literature
Literature studies
Greece
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Summary:The article discusses the titles that are associated to Demeter Thesmophoros. It is stated that Demeter is characterized by many titles in cult inscriptions and mythological literature. It is said that most of Demeter's cult epithets fall into one of two categories. One is she is a giver of mystic rites and the other is she is a giver of the civilized way of life made possible by the knowledge of another king of secret. Greek divine epithets had a tendency to proliferate over time. It is said that the most common epithets of Demeter describe her as the goddess of grain agriculture and the giver of cereal plenty, in terms so plain as to be almost crude.