Persephone
godDaughter 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
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.
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:
Explore Further
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