Persephone
Daughter of Demeter and queen of the underworld. Her annual return from Hades brings spring; her descent brings winter — the mythological explanation of the seasons.
The Myth of Persephone
Persephone was the beloved daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest. She was gathering flowers in a meadow when the earth opened beneath her feet and Hades, lord of the underworld, seized her and carried her below to be his queen.
Demeter searched the world for her daughter, neglecting her duties so that crops withered and famine spread. When she learned what had happened, she refused to let anything grow until Persephone was returned. Zeus, facing the extinction of humanity, ordered Hades to release her.
But Hades had given Persephone pomegranate seeds to eat, binding her to the underworld. A compromise was reached: Persephone would spend part of each year with Hades and part with her mother. When Persephone returns to the surface each spring, Demeter rejoices and the earth blooms. When she descends in autumn, Demeter mourns and winter falls. Thus the Greeks explained the cycle of the seasons.
Parents
Zeus and Demeter
Symbols
Fun Fact
Persephone was so feared that many Greeks avoided saying her name, calling her simply "Kore" (the Maiden) instead.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Proserpina
⚡ godSpring, underworld, renewal
Roman queen of the underworld and goddess of spring growth, equivalent to the Greek Persephone
Abduction of Persephone
💭 conceptNarrative
The seizing of Persephone by Hades and its consequences, which explain the origin of the seasons
Demeter
⚡ godGoddess of the harvest and sacred law
The goddess of grain and agriculture whose grief at losing her daughter created winter and whose mysteries at Eleusis promised life after death.
Demeter
⚡ godGoddess of harvest and the Eleusinian Mysteries
Demeter was the goddess of grain, harvest, and fertility whose grief over Persephone's abduction explained the seasons and whose Mysteries promised hope beyond death.
Demeter
⚡ godGoddess of the harvest, agriculture, fertility, sacred law
Goddess of grain, harvest, and the fertility of the earth. When her daughter Persephone was abducted, Demeter's grief brought winter to the world.
Carpo
⚡ godHarvest, autumn
Goddess of the autumn harvest and one of the original Attic Horae who presided over the fruiting of crops
Rape of Persephone
💭 conceptseasons, abduction
The foundational myth explaining the seasons: Hades abducted Persephone, and Demeter's grief caused winter until a compromise allowed her daughter's partial return each spring.
Persephone
⚡ godQueen of the Underworld
The daughter of Demeter who became queen of the dead — the goddess who bridges the living world and the realm of the departed.
Flora
⚡ godFlowers, spring, blossoming plants
Roman goddess of flowers and spring, equivalent to the Greek Chloris
Goddess of Harvest
💭 conceptHarvest, agriculture, grain, fertility of the earth
Demeter controls the growth of crops and the fertility of the soil, and her grief governs the cycle of the seasons.
Thallo
⚡ godSpring, growth
Goddess of spring blossoms and one of the original Attic Horae who presided over the budding of plants
Auxo
⚡ godGrowth, summer
Goddess of plant growth and one of the original Attic Horae who presided over the increase of crops