Persephone

Wouldn’t you hate to be the wife of Hades? Persephone, goddess of springtime, happened to be that //lucky lady//. Persephone was an innocent, young woman until Hades abducted her to be his wife and queen of the underworld. Persephone was once a young, innocent girl. She roamed the earth as the Goddess of Springtime. One average day, she was playing in a meadow, when Hades abducted her to the underworld. Her mother fell into a fit of depression when she found out that Persephone had been kidnapped by the God of the underworld. However, her mother became absolutely furious when she found out that Zeus, Persephone’s father, had cooperated with this plan of Persephone’s abduction. Persephone’s mother was so angry that she kept the earth dull and fruitless until her daughter was safely returned home. They tried everything they could to get Persephone back, but Hades had already fed her a pomegranate seed, which was considered fruit of the underworld. Zeus and Hades made an agreement that Persephone could spend four months of the year with Hades as his wife and queen of the underworld, if her mother and the earth got her for the rest of the year. That is why, in winter, the earth is so dull and lifeless, because the Goddess of springtime is with Hades in the underworld. ([|Atsma]) Persephone’s early life was filled with innocence. She was raised by her loving mother, Demeter, and spent most of her time with her older half-sisters, the other daughters of Zeus. Persephone was said to be a perfect daughter, always in a good mood. But as Persephone grew up, her beauty began to shine. She was only a teenager when Hades started liking her. It is said that Hades also wanted Persephone as a wife because of her attitude. Persephone was always cheery and gleeful, and Hades lived in the realm of the dead, he probably needed to brighten up the place. Hades never bothered to get her attention, thrill her, or even really meet her. After Zeus approved of the idea, Hades simply kidnapped Persephone, making her his bride. At first, Persephone hated Hades, and was filled with sorrow. She missed the earth, her home, and her mother. For the first few months she was in the underworld she refused to eat, and insisted that she hated Hades and the Underworld and just wanted to leave. Hades was kind to her, and soon Persephone grew to love him. Her heart still ached for her mother. Demeter spent her days neglecting the earth and searching for her daughter. Soon Persephone began to eat again, but once you have eaten the food of the Underworld, you can never return home. Demeter had to reason with Hades for him to agree to let Persephone spend two thirds of the year with her mother, and only one third with him. Persephone got to see her mother, and live in her true home for most of the year, blessing the earth with fruits and plants. When she stays with her husband in the Underworld, the plants and fruits die, and the land becomes bare. This time, where Persephone is in the Underworld, ruling with her husband Hades, is winter. ([|Encyclopedia Mythica]) Persephone had a very complex personality. She acted differently when she was with her husband, Hades, than how she acted when she was on Earth. She was not a headstrong goddess like Athena, nor a seductive goddess like Aphrodite. She was simple, innocent, and vulnerable. She was sensitive and childlike. But when she was with her husband, she changed to fit her tough and unmerciful surroundings of the Underworld. When she was first abducted to the Underworld and forced to marry Hades, she did not enjoy being there or want to fit in. Now she was ruling with Hades, and needed to take responsibility for eating the pomegranate seeds. She acted more strong, secure, unyielding. No matter where she was, she always at least slightly held on to her childlike innocence. ([|Atsma]) Persephone may have been the goddess of the Underworld, but she was also the goddess of springtime. That makes her the ultimate goddess of fertility and new life. But in most stories Persephone did not have any kids of her own. It is said that she had a child with Zeus, her own father, named Zagreus. Her father is also said to have been Hercules, but in most stories it is Zeus. Macaria is also said to be a child of Persephone and Hades. Another child of Persephone was said to be Melinoe. She was said to be the daughter of Zeus and Persephone, and was the goddess of ghosts. She was born because Zeus took the appearance of Hades and seduced Persephone by the river Styx. But when people worshiped to Melinoe, they usually worshiped to her as the child of Hades himself, instead of Zeus (Angel Fire). Persephone, the goddess of springtime and queen of the underworld, was a very complex goddess. She was abducted and forced to marry the god of the underworld and was split between time with her mother and time with her husband. Persephone has interesting stories and myths about her, including how she became the queen of the Underworld, and about her children.
 * Goddess of Springtime, Maiden of the Underworld **
 * by Sarah **

“Persephone”. Encyclopedia Mythica. December 5 2009 . Atsma, Aaron. “Persephone”. Theoi Project. December 5 2009 . “Persephone”. Angel Fire. December 5 2009 .