Like the satyrs and other rustic gods, she maintained some of the animalistic attributes of early shamanic religions.ĭescriptions of a cult statue of Demeter in the cave she supposedly hid in show the more primitive and animalistic nature of her worship in Arcadia. Their view of Demeter as a goddess of nature who combined human and animal traits was likely a result of this archaic belief system. Their religion was more rustic and primitive than the noble, law-based views prevalent in places like Athens. It is believed that many of their practices were influenced by both the first Greek-speaking people to enter the region and the indigenous pre-Greek cultures they encountered.Īrcadia was a relatively isolated area, so their mythology incorporated fewer outside sources than those of their neighbors. The local religion of Arcadia is believed by many historians to represent some of the oldest beliefs in the Peloponnesian area. Historians have used the information available from archaeology, surviving writings, and comparative mythology to piece together why the Arcadians worshiped Demeter and Poseidon’s daughter. The mystery cults promoted her worship, but the general populace also recognized her as an important local figure.ĭespite this, almost nothing is known about Despoina’s role in the area’s religion. Despoina was a goddess.ĭespoina was an important goddess in Arcadia, perhaps even their central female deity. Their son Arion was an immortal horse, often shown with a black mane and tail. ![]() The earth recovered and she allowed grains to grow once more.Īs a result of her assault by Poseidon, Demeter bore two children. As plants died, livestock starved and eventually the world’s human population faced mass starvation.ĭemeter eventually emerged and washed away her grief and anger in the River Ladon. That story, too, included crop failures as a part of the goddess’s mourning, so the causes were combined by non-Arcadian writers like Pausanias.ĭressed all in black, Demeter spent months hidden in the cave. Later writers claimed that Poseidon’s attack had occurred while Demeter was searching for Persephone. In her anger, she did not care about the greater repercussions of this. She retreated into a cave to ritually purify herself. Poseidon soon found her and she had no way to escape.ĭemeter was furious at the assault. She disguised herself among the king’s mares, hoping to evade her brother’s advances.Įven in such a disguise, however, Demeter could not hide her divinity. In an attempt to hide herself, Demeter hid among the herd of horses that belonged to a local king. She resisted his advances, however, and fled to Arcadia to avoid him. The legend said that, just as Zeus had once desired his sister, Poseidon wished to make Demeter his lover. She was the half-sister of Persephone, who the cultists referred to as Kore, or “the Maiden.” While little of Despoina’s own role and mythology survive, the story of her birth has been passed down into the modern age.Īccording to the Arcadian mysteries, Despoina was the daughter of Poseidon and Demeter. Meaning “the Mistress,” it was a cult title used to avoid the taboo of saying her true name. Elsewhere in Greece she was unknown.Įven her name remains something of a mystery. She was a goddess of the mystery cults centered around the region of Arcadia. ![]() In fact, only a select group of people knew about her at all. The Birth of Despoinaĭespoina was not one of the most popular goddesses in ancient Greece. ![]() Historians still believe, however, that her existence can help shed light on some of Greece’s earliest religious beliefs. Even there, the goddess’s full importance was revealed only to initiates of certain cults.īecause so little was known about her even in the classical era, Despoina’s mythology and exact role remain a mystery. The cult of Despoina is one of many that existed only in Arcadia. She was worshiped in the isolated region of Arcadia and called Despoina, “the Mistress.” This title was given to other goddesses throughout Greece, but seems to have been of particular importance in Arcadia. In fact, her name remains unknown to this day. Demeter and Poseidon’s daughter was not as famous as her half-sister Persephone.
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