Ceres is the only one of Rome's many agricultural deities to be listed among the Dii Consentes, Rome's equivalent to the Twelve Olympians of Greek mythology. The Romans saw her as the counterpart of the Greek goddess Demeter, whose mythology was reinterpreted for Ceres in Roman art and literature.

What is the difference between Ceres and Demeter?

Like several of the major Greek gods, Demeter was born to the Titan Kronos, which means she spent most of her childhood trying to avoid being digested in his stomach. Ceres had a much more carefree upbringing, since Kronos' Roman counterpart, Saturn, made it a point to devour only his male children.

Why is Demeter called Ceres?

In the Roman period, Demeter became conflated with the Roman agricultural goddess Ceres under the Interpretatio graeca. ... The cult originated in southern Italy (part of Magna Graecia) and was probably based on the Thesmophoria, a mystery cult dedicated to Demeter and Persephone as "Mother and Maiden".