Like the other hymns, this poem is placed in that transitional phase of human evolution where the world has not yet taken its “correct” form. It serves as the official narrative of the Eleusinian traditions associated with the founding of the sanctuary and the flourishing of the Greater Mysteries.

The poem refers to one of the most dramatic episodes of the mythical life of Demeter (the abduction of Persephone by Hades). The poet sometimes seems to talk to her and remind her of past benefits to ensure that she will assist the faithful in the future according to their expectations.

The verses where her name is mentioned are accompanied by characteristic adjectives that define the goddess of agriculture. It begins and ends with an invocation to the goddess and the unique abilities or areas of responsibility of Demeter. The Hymn to Demeter generally follows the standard layout and material presentation for the Homeric hymns. It has similar patterns in spelling and narrative techniques with the repeated use of stereotyped expressions, which help the poet memorise and recite these verses. The hymn is written in the same measure as Homer's great epic poems (finger hexameter). Its creation is placed in the second half of the seventh pre-Christian century (650-600 BCE), but we do not know its creator (or creators). It is a long poem that narrates the actions and adventures of Demeter after the abduction of Persephone, according to the local mythological tradition of Eleusis. The Homeric Hymn to Demeter is one of the largest of its kind and the oldest surviving text referring to the primordial worship of the goddess.

Demeter homeric hymn