It’s only fitting that Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, stands on top of the Chicago Board of Trade Building, the world’s largest grain exchange. Our modern word “cereal” originates from Ceres.
As the myth goes, Ceres’ beautiful daughter, Proserpine, was kidnapped by Pluto and taken to the underworld to be his wife. Ceres was frantic and didn’t want to lose her daughter forever, so she struck a deal with Pluto that Proserpine would return to earth six months a year.
Every spring, Ceres welcomes her daughter back with blooming flowers, and each fall when Proserpine returns to Pluto, Ceres cries and lets all the crops die.
The cycle continues to this day. Here we are at Ceres’ Table in Chicago, honoring Ceres and all her bounty.
