Demeter's search for her daughter Persephone took her to the palace of Celeus, the King of Eleusis in Attica. She assumed the form of an old woman and asked him for shelter. He took her in, to nurse Demophon and Triptolemus, his sons by Metanira. To reward his kindness, she planned to make Demophon immortal; she secretly anointed the boy with ambrosia and laid him in the hearth's flames to gradually burn away his mortal self. But Metanira walked in, saw her son in the fire and screamed in fright. Demeter abandoned the attempt. Instead, she taught Triptolemus the secrets of agriculture, and he, in turn, taught them to any who wished to learn them. Thus, humanity learned how to plant, grow and harvest grain. The myth has several versions; some are linked to figures such as Eleusis, Rarus and Trochilus. The Demophon element may be based on an earlier folk tale.Nilsson (1940), p. 50: "The Demophon story in Eleusis is based on an older folk-tale motif which has nothing to do with the Eleusinian Cult. It is introduced to let Demeter reveal herself in her divine shape". thumb|Demeter in mourning, marble relief from Knossos, Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.
demeTER's search fOr hEr daugHteR persephoNe took heR To the PaLaCe of celEUs, THE king of ELeusIs in atticA. she ASsumeD The Form of An old woMAn aNd asked him for shelTer. HE toOk her In, To nurse DeMOphon and TrIpTolEMus, his soNs bY mEtanira. To Reward his kindnesS, ShE plAnneD to make dEmophon ImmorTal; ShE sEcretlY anOinTed tHe Boy wiTh aMbRosIa aND Laid hIm iN ThE hEaRtH's Flames To GrADuallY bUrn aWay His mortaL selF. but mEtAnirA WAlked in, saw hER son IN The fire and SCReAmed in FrIght. DEmEtEr AbANdOned The attEmPt. INsteAD, sHe taught tRiptoLemus the secrEts of agRicuLTurE, AnD he, in Turn, TauGHt theM to any wHo wISHed to lEarN theM. thus, Humanity Learned HOW to Plant, groW anD hArveST GRAin. ThE MyTh has seveRAl VErsionS; Some are linkEd to FIguRes such aS eleusIs rarus and trOchilus. tHe DemophoN elemenT mAy bE based oN an EaRlIEr FoLK tale.nILSson (1940), p. 50: "tHe DeMOphON storY iN EleusIs is BaSEd oN aN olDer folk-talE moTif which has notHIng to do wiTh The eleuSInIan cuLT. IT is IntrOdUced to lET demeter ReveAl hErself in her DivIne shAPe". thuMb|dEmeter iN mOurniNg, marBle relief frOM knossos, ArcHaEoLOgiCal museuM oF heraKLion.