Triptolemus (), also known as Buzyges (), was a hero of Eleusis in Greek mythology, central to the Eleusinian Mysteries and is worshipped as the inventor and patron of agriculture. Triptolemus is credited with being the first to sow seed for cultivation after being taught by Demeter and is credited for the use of oxen and the plough. Xenophon claims that Peloponnesus was the first place Triptolemus shared Demeter's agricultural gift while Pausanias claims the Rharium plane near Eleusis was the first place to be sown for crops.
Triptolemus is depicted as a young man with a branch or diadem placed in his hair, usually sitting on his chariot, adorned with serpents. His attributes include a plate of grain, a pair of wheat or barley ears and a scepter.
Mythology
Origin of Triptolemus' Agricultural Gifts
Triptolemus' first introduction to Demeter is during Demeter's search for her daughter following the abduction of Persephone. While Demeter, in the guise of an old woman named Doso, was searching for her daughter Persephone (Kore), who had been abducted by Hades (Pluto), she received a hospitable welcome from Celeus, the King of Eleusis. He asked her to nurse Demophon ("killer of men", a counterpart to Triptolemus) and Triptolemus, his sons by Metanira.
Demeter saw Triptolemus was sick and fed him her breast milk and placed him under the hot coals of a fire. Not only did this recover his strength but he grew instantly into manhood. With each day Demophon grew but she was unable to complete the ritual because she was discovered burying the babe in the fire. and wheat, representative of the gift of agriculture. From Triptolemus, the rest of Greece learned to plant and reap crops as he flew across the land on his chariot wafting the wheat through the air to sow crops across the inhabitied earth.
In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter', Triptolemus is not a son of Celeus and Metanira but rather known as a king of Eleusis who served justice, Rather than nurse Demophon, Demeter anoints him with ambrosia, the food of the gods, breathes on him gently while holding him to her chest, and places him within the flames of fire during the night, all in an effort to make him immortal.
Spreading the Art of Agriculture
thumb|249x249px|Marble relief of Triptolemus, [[Demeter, and Persephone at the Archaeological Museum of Eleusis, Greece]]
Triptolemus traveled to Scythia on his dragon drawn chariot to teach King Lyncus and the Scythians the art of agriculture. Bearing the gifts of Demeter, he scattered seeds across Scythia so the realm may yield a large harvest of good food. Lyncus grew envious of Triptolemus and his gift of agriculture, so he planned to murder Triptolemus while he slept, hoping that he could receive the praise for the harvest instead. Before Lyncus could enact his plan he was thwarted by Demeter who turned him into a lynx as punishment and sent Triptolemus back into the sky in her chariot.
Traveling from Attica, Triptolemus went to the city of Patrae located near the river Peirus and the river Glaucus. The land was ruled by Eumelus, who was said to be indigenous to the land, and he was king over few subjects. Triptolemus shared with him cultivated corn and taught him how to found a city, which Eumelus named Aroe from the tilling of soil or fertile land.
Eleusinian Mysteries
thumb|Roman copy of the [[Great Eleusinian Relief depicting a scene of young Triptolemus standing between Demeter and Persephone. Demeter is handing Triptolemus ears of grain (now lost), Metropolitan Museum of Art.]]The Eleusinian Mysteries were initiations held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone based at the Panhellenic Sanctuary of Eleusis in ancient Greece. They are considered the "most famous of the secret religious rites of ancient Greece".
In the archaic Homeric Hymn to Demeter, Triptolemus is briefly mentioned as one of the original priests of Demeter, one of the first men to learn the secret rites and mysteries of Eleusinian Mysteries: Diocles driver of horses, the mighty Eumolpos, Celeus leader of peoples, and Polyxeinus were the others mentioned as some of the first priests.
Triptolemus' role at Eleusis is unique as he was one of the first men to learn the mystic rites and was a pupil of Demeter who was charged with bringing agriculture to humankind. Separate from the Mysteries, Triptolemus was thought to have a cult of his own Each of the judges had their own roles in the afterlife: Aeacus was the doorkeeper and judged the deceased of Europe, Rhadamanthus was the Lord of Elysium and judged the deceased of Asia, and Minos was to be the deal breaker if any indeceasion was reached. Triptolemus was said to have rule over the deceased who were initiated into the mysteries.
Parentage
Triptolemus' parentage is highly debated across sources: He was either a mortal prince and the eldest son of King Celeus of Eleusis and Metanira or according to Pseudo-Apollodorus, Panyasis believed he was the son of Eleusis, while Pherecydes believed he was the son of the divine son of Gaia and Oceanus (Ocean and Earth).
{| class="wikitable"
|+<big>Comparative Table of Triptolemus' Parentage and Siblings According to Different Sources</big>
! rowspan="2" |Relation
! rowspan="2" |Names
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! colspan="11" |Sources
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|Schol. on Hesiod
|Orphic Fragment