#ceres deity work

[kyokawitch]

Sacerdos Cereris

AKA:  sacerdos Cerealis or sacerdos Cereris publica

    Sacerdos Cereris was the title of the priestess of the Roman goddess Ceres. Ceres’ cult was one of only two Roman state cults to include female priests. Her cult was apparently originally Greek, so, at least at the start, the priestesses were selected among Greek women from Elea and Naples. They had a high position in Roman society. Ceres’ priestesses and the Vestals were the only priestesses who were active in a publicly funded state cult. Source: x

[kyokawitch]

Ceres Altar: What to Put on It?

How you want to decorate your altar will be different for the next person, but here are some ideas!

→ pictures of her, or pictures that remind you of her 

→ dried herbs (ideally that correspond with her)

→ alternatively, fresh, preferably in season, foods (fruits, vegetables, herbs, ect)

→ if you can, a statue (though these can be pricey, & hard to find one ceres-specific)

→ a hand drawn or hand carved picture/figure of her

→ grain, or anything that contains grain (this can be rice and cereal too)

→ colors that correspond to her!

→ candles and crystals

→ stalk of wheat

→ incense

→ corn (dried might be easiest)

→ anything that feels right to add, etc

[kyokawitch]

Ceres and Her Helper Gods

Ceres is said to have had twelve (and possibly more) minor deities who’d help her with the task of maintaining agriculture.  

The twelve are: 

Vervactor, "He who ploughs"  (First Spring-Plougher)

Reparator, "He who prepares the earth" (Second-Plougher)

Imporcitor, "He who ploughs with a wide furrow" (Ridge-Maker)

Insitor, "He who plants seeds" (Broadcaster)

Obarator, "He who traces the first ploughing"  (Seed-Coverer)

Occator, "He who harrows"  (Harrower)

Serritor, "He who digs"  (Manual Hoer)

Subruncinator, "He who weeds"  (Manual Weed-Root-Remover)

Messor, "He who reaps"  (Reaper)

Conuector (Convector), "He who carries the grain"  (Grain-Transporter)

Conditor, "He who stores the grain"  (Granary Protector)

Promitor, "He who distributes the grain"  (Bringer Forth for Use)

These are only the confirmed deities, though there may have been more (such as Thresher and a Winnower), but nothing can be said for sure. 

All twelve of these deities assist her with agricultural matters, and each has their own job. 

sources: x , x

[kyokawitch]

Ceres and the Dead / Afterlife

   Ceres worship included not only fertility rites, but also rites for the dead. Apparently, Ceres maintained the boundaries between the realms of the living and the dead. She was an essential presence at funerals, since, when given the appropriate rites and offerings, she would help the deceased to the afterlife, or else their spirit would remain wandering. 

   For Ceres to help guide the dead, well off families would sacrifice a pig for her. The poor would offer wheat, flowers, and a libation(a drink poured in offering for a deity). 

   The afterlife for the “exclusively female initiates” in the sacra Cereris was perhaps somewhat different, as they were offered a “method of living” and “dying with better hope.”

sources:  x  x

[kyokawitch]

Symbols of Ceres

→ grain → wheat → torch → cornucopia / the horn of plenty → poppy → corn → pumpkins → chaste trees → bread → scythe → pigs → ants

[kyokawitch]

Ieiunium Cereris

   Ieiunium Cereris means “fast of Ceres.” The festival was created to appease the Roman goddess Ceres. Apparently, the festival was at first observed every four years, but later on, it started to be held annually on October 4th.

sources: x x x