The Roman Goddess Ceres

by Barbette Stanley Spaeth

Interest in goddess worship is growing in contemporary society, as women seek models for feminine spirituality and wholeness. New cults are developing around ancient goddesses from many cultures, although their modern adherents often envision and interpret the goddesses very differently than their original worshippers did. In this thematic study of the Roman goddess Ceres, Barbette Spaeth explores the rich complexity of meanings and functions that grew up around the goddess from the prehistoric period to the Late Roman Empire. In particular, she examines two major concepts, fertility and liminality, and two social categories, the plebs and women, which were inextricably linked with Ceres in the Roman mind. Spaeth then analyzes an image of the goddess in a relief of the Ara Pacis, an important state monument of the Augustan period, showing how it incorporates all these varied roles and associations of Ceres. This interpretation represents a new contribution to art history. With its use of literary, epigraphical, numismatic, artistic, and archaeological evidence, The Roman Goddess Ceres presents a more encompassing view of the goddess than was previously available. It will be important reading for all students of Classics, as well as for a general audience interested in New Age, feminist, or pagan spirituality.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Classics, Mythology, Paganism

308 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1994

Reviews

[Truls Ljungström · Rating 3 out of 5]

När jag började läsa denna var det för att jag var nyfiken på Demeters roll i de Eleusiska mysterierna, och eftersom jag hade hört att det romerska kultbruket kring Ceres (om vilket jag inget visste) kunde innehålla ledtrådar. Även om jag inte hittade en ett-till-ett-jämförelse i denna bok, kan jag inte säga annat än att den innehöll mer än vad jag vågade hoppas. Det är en bra illustration inte bar av kultbruk, utan därutöver av propagandaanvändning och civil-rituell användning av Ceresgestalten i Romarriket. Jag rekommenderar den varmt för alla som intresserar sig för ämnet.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a study of the goddess Ceres, to show how the Romans themselves viewed her, as far as can be told from archaeological and literary evidence. I hoped it wouldn't be too academic and technical for a non-specialist like me, and was happy to discover that it's pretty accessible. My major annoyance while reading this was that Spaeth doesn't define Latin terms right away, and since I don't know much about Ceres, I had to Google a few things to keep up. For instance, porca praecidanea isn't explained until page 36, which is well into the second chapter of the book (it's a sow sacrificed to Ceres before the harvest). She does explain all the terms eventually: be patient!

Overall, this is a great source of historical information on Ceres. Spaeth doesn't talk about the mythology of Ceres much; the focus is on showing how the Romans linked Ceres with the plebs and with women, and used her functions of fertility and liminality to stabilize their society. Spaeth summarizes each of her arguments at the end of its chapter, which was helpful in keeping them all straight. And by the end of the book, Ceres was a distinct goddess in my mind, and not just Demeter with a Roman name.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fantastic book! If you want to learn about the goddess Ceres, this is the book to get. I also really enjoyed Barbette's take on the Ara Pacis "Tellus" panel and I have to say, she makes some very valid points as to why the figure of Tellus may actually be Ceres. Anyway, I love this book and once I have time, I will write a proper review.