The Ancient Greeks had numerous mythologies and beliefs that are all very distinct from each other. They worship numerous different gods, who each represent something different and have a specific purpose/story. There have been many major myths and episodes published to share the stories of the gods. For example, the Homeric Hymns are a collection of poems that each reflect different, individual gods. Apollodorus' Library is another book from the ancient Greeks that consists of myths and legends as well. In the Homeric Hymns and Apollodorus' Library, versions of ancient myths are transmitted. They give insight and wisdom to the audience, which is why they are still studied today. In the Homeric Hymns and Apollodorus' Library, which are just two of the many well-known works from Greek mythology, there are descriptions of how different events happened, and we can find many parallels between them.

The Homeric Hymns refer to an ancient collection of 33 poems used to celebrate and worship the gods. They are attributed to Homer, who was a Greek scholar. His work is one of the oldest hymns in Ancient Greek history. One of these is dedicated to a goddess, named Demeter, who is the goddess of harvest. The entire Homeric Hymn to Demeter consists of the abduction of Persephone, the wanderings of Demeter, her care for Demophon, the pomegranate, and the division of Persephone's time. Apollodorus was a Greek living under the Roman Empire who excluded Rome from his books. "Apollodorus' account is useful on two levels: the general and the specific, or the broader Greek level and his individual view which reflects on his own times and the circumstances under which he was writing" (Fletcher, 64). The fifth chapter of Apollodorus' Library is dedicated to Demeter and Persephone. So, both of these texts from ancient Greece have a version of the myth of Demeter in them. They contain a lot of similarities and differences, while both still having important insights for their audiences.

In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, she wanders the world looking for her daughter.

Persephone. During this time, she becomes a nurse for Demophon , the King's son, and takes care of him. In reference to the text from the Apollodorus , Demeter had the intention of making his child become immortal which is similar to the Homeric Hymns text, so she dipped him in fire every night. According to the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, "But Demeter used to anoint him with ambrosia, as if he had been born of the goddess, and she would breathe down her sweet breath on him as she held him to her bosom. At nights she would conceal him within the menos of fire, as if he were a smoldering log, and his philoi parents were kept unaware" (Homeric Hymn to Demeter, lines 236-240). Demeter was not trying to hurt the child, as people viewing the situation might think. "Apotheosis by fire, the plea of Demeter's barbarous act, was well known in the ancient world" (Halliday, 11). One day, Demophon's mother stepped into the scene before the ritual could be completed and ruined it. This text which is found in Chapter 5 of Apollodorus' Library is also contained in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter. One difference in this story between these versions is the child's fate. In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, it states "I swear by the Styx, the witness of oaths that gods make, as I say this: immortal and ageless for all days  would I have made your philos little boy, and I would have given him time that is  unwilting. But now there is no way for him to avoid death and doom. Still, he will have a time that is unwilting [a-phthi-tos], for all time, because he had once sat on my knees and slept in my arms" (Homeric Hymn to Demeter, lines 259-264). According to the Homeric version which details the event as though the child did not become immortal because of the disruption of the ritual by the mother, but according to Apollodorus , the woman cries out which led to the death of the child in the fire. This event gives the audience insight on a mother's fear and impact on their children. For example, Demophon's mother completely changed his fate. Another piece of wisdom is that you can't trust everyone, and parents need to be careful with picking a nanny or babysitter, or one can also say that you should trust the gods, though of course the identity of the goddess was unknown here. This applies to a modern audience because they can see how Demeter treated Demophon , and take away that a babysitter/nanny can do a lot that might impact the child without the parents knowing.

Another difference that is present between the two sets of mythologies is in the event where Demeter comes to learn about the kidnapping of her daughter. In the Homeric Hymn, " She sped off like a bird , soaring over land and sea, looking and looking. But no one was willing to tell her the truth; not one of the gods, not one of the mortal humans, not one of the birds, messengers of the truth. Thereafter, for nine days did the Lady Demeter wander all over the  earth, holding torches ablaze in her hands" (Homeric Hymn to Demeter, lines 43-48). Eventually, she comes to learn of this through a message from the sun which told her that Pluto had kidnapped her very own daughter. Apollodorus states "Demeter went about seeking her all over the earth with torches by night and day, learning from the people of Hermion that Pluto had carried her off ' (Apollodorus, Library Chapter 5 v.1-1). Apollodorus' text implies that Demeter learned about the kidnapping from people who recounted and told her of the situation. The Homeric Hymn to Demeter does not mention Demeter's visit to Hermion that Apollodorus' Library does while searching for Persephone. The lesson that people can get from this particular event is that one cannot escape their own fate, and some things are unavoidable. Things happen, and obviously Demeter never wanted to lose her only daughter to Pluto, but there was nothing that she could have done to stop or prevent it. She did what she could when her daughter went missing ; tried her best to find her as any parent should.

One other difference or rather contradiction that is present between the two mythologies is the topic of agricultural invention. This contrast comes about in Apollodorus , "But for Triptolemus, the elder of Metanira's children, she made a chariot of winged dragons, and gave him wheat, with which, wafted through the sky, he sowed the whole inhabited earth. But Panyasis affirms that Triptolemus was a son of Eleusis, for he says that Demeter came to him. Pherecydes, however, says that he was a son of Ocean and Earth." (Apollodorus , Library Chapter 5 v.1-3). This passage suggests that agriculture was more of a gift from Triptolemus who performed his actions in respect to Demeter. On the other hand, The Homeric Hymn to Demeter states "The bright grain of wheat had stayed hidden underneath, through the mental power of Demeter, the one with the beautiful ankles. But, from this point on, it began straightaway to flourish with long ears of grain . . . 'Do not be too stubborn in your anger at the dark-clouded son of Kronos. Straightaway make the harvest grow, that life-bringer for humans. ‘So she spoke, and Demeter, she with the beautiful garlands in her hair, did not disobey. Straightaway she sent up the harvest from the land with its rich clods of earth. And all the wide earth with leaves and blossoms was laden" (Homeric Hymn to Demeter, lines 452-474). This implies that the agricultural process had been in existence, which is different from the version in Apollodorus' Library. This event gives insight to the audience because it makes them really think about how agriculture came about, and which version is more accurate.

Overall, the Homeric Hymns and Apollodorus’ Library both include varying versions based around the story of Demeter. There are several similarities and differences between them, but in the end they both provide insight to a modern audience.

Reference List

• APOLLODORUS, A (2016). APOLLODORUS:  The library (classic reprint). Place of publication not identified: FORGOTTEN Books.