In Greek mythology, Demeter was the goddess associated with agriculture, grain, and the harvest.
Demeter was one of the twelve Olympian deities in later tradition and was the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. Her name and worship were closely connected with cultivated grain, the fertility of the earth, and the continuation of farming communities.
The best-known myth about Demeter concerns her daughter Persephone, whose disappearance caused Demeter to withhold growth from the earth. Persephone’s return for part of each year explained the seasonal cycle in ancient Greek storytelling. Demeter is sometimes confused with Gaia, the primordial earth goddess, but they represent different ideas: Gaia personifies the Earth itself, while Demeter is especially linked to cultivated land and crops.