The search for Persephone

Once Demeter discovered her daughter had been abducted she abandoned her divine functions on earth to search for her. Demeter, who looked after the crops and fertility of the land, refused to continue her divine role until her daughter was returned to her. Demeter searched the earth for days until she was found by Celeus who persuaded her to be a guest in his home. While in his home Demeter became particularly fond of his son and, one night, attempted to give him the gift of immortality but she was stopped by his mother, Demeter was not happy about not being able to complete the ritual, but then bestowed upon him the gift of teaching man how to work the land and make it fruitful once more. Many years later Demeter came back and took the boy, named Triptolemus, away and gave him knowledge about agriculture. Triptolemus then built a magnificent temple for Demeter in which many sacred rituals were performed such as the 'Eleusinian Mysteries' which were founded by Demeter.