ABSTRACT
A young man of Attic extraction whom Demeter chose as the transmitter of her gift of grain and agriculture to the nations of the world. He was variously stated to be a son of Celeus and Metanira of Eleusis (identified, in some accounts, with the child whom Demeter tried to render immortal); or of the hero named Eleusis (after whom that town was named); or of Oceanus and Gaia (Earth). Triptolemus was depicted in Greek art as carrying a wheatsheaf and sitting in the magic chariot given him by Demeter, which was drawn by a pair of winged serpents. In this vehicle he flew the length and breadth of the earth, scattering seeds of grain and teaching the inhabitants of each place how to cultivate crops, and giving them laws and justice. In Scythia, however, the king of the country, named Lyncus, was consumed with jealousy of Triptolemus’ powers, and resented his role as benefactor of mankind. Lyncus tried to murder Triptolemus in his bed, but Demeter saved her favourite by restraining Lyncus, as he was about to drive his dagger home, and turning him into a lynx. Antheas, son of King Eumelus of Achaea, tried to drive Triptolemus’ magic chariot, but fell out and killed himself. In Thrace King Carnabon slew one of the winged serpents and imprisoned Triptolemus in a dungeon. But Demeter again rescued him and gave him another serpent; and to remind mortals of Carnabon’s sin, she placed him in the sky as the constellation Ophiuchus, the serpentholder. Some ancient authorities claimed that Triptolemus invented the wheel. The Athenians moreover believed that after his death he became one of the judges of the dead, along with Minos and Rhadamanthys.
