Ceres

Roman goddess

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Article History

Ceres, in Roman religion, goddess of the growth of food plants, worshiped either alone or in association with the earth goddess Tellus. At an early date her cult was overlaid by that of Demeter (q.v.), who was widely worshiped in Sicily and Magna Graecia. On the advice of the Sibylline Books, a cult of Ceres, Liber, and Libera was introduced into Rome (according to tradition, in 496 bc) to check a famine. The temple, built on the Aventine Hill in 493 bc, became a centre of plebeian religious and political activities and also became known for the splendour of its works of art. Destroyed by fire in 31 bc, it was restored by Augustus. The three chief festivals of Ceres’ cult all followed Greek lines.