Persephone

Allison Carey **
 * Persephone- Goddess of the Underworld

KEY POINTS
 * Persephone- Per sef own ne
 * Daughter of Demeter and Zeus
 * Kidnapped by Hades, forced to marry him
 * Queen/Goddess of the Underworld
 * Spends half the year with Hades and other half with Demeter
 * Describes seasons
 * with Hades= fall & winter
 * with Demeter= spring & summer
 * Involved in legends of Orpheus, Adonis and others
 * Son with Zeus- Zagerus

 ** Family and Stuff... ** Persephone (Roman: Prosperina) was the daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest, and Zeus. Persephone is often known as the Kore (or Cora, meaning young maiden) or called the Maiden. She is often depicted carrying a sheaf of grain, symbolizing her connection to Demeter and Earth's fertility. Because of her beauty, everyone loved her, including Hades, ruler of the Underworld. It is said that several gods flattered and flirted with her, until Demeter hid her daughter from the Olympian gods. Persephone lived alone, caring for nature, planting seeds, etc. However, she did eventually become the wife of Hades. From then on, she was often known as Queen of the Dead. It was taboo to speak her name aloud though, so many continued to refer to her as the Kore.

** Abduction Legend... ** Hades had fallen in love with Persphone. He wanted to marry her, despite Demeter's wishes. One day in a field on Enna, Persephone was picking flowers with some nymphs. She had wandered a bit away from the othes when the ground opened up. Hades rode up in a chariot, grabbed Persephone and escaped to the Underworld. Some say that Hades first asked Zeus about marrying Persephone. It's said that Zeus advised him to take the girl because Demeter would never allow the marriage. But whether or not Hades was following Zeus' advise, Persephone was now his. There were only 2 witnesses; Zeus and Helios, the sun. Demeter was not told what had happened.

Shortly after though, Demeter realized her daughter was missing. Demeter was crushed, lost. The earth felt the impact of her grief. Droughts, blights, farms were destroyed, and more resulted as Demeter continually searched for Persephone. Basically, the earth suffered as she did. Finally, Helios came forward and told Demeter what had happened.

Demeter rushed up to Mount Olympus to talk, well, yell at Zeus. Zeus agreed that Persephone could be returned to her mother and the heavens if, and only IF, she had not eaten anything while in the Underworld. Demeter agreed and Hermes was sent to retrieve Persephone. However, Persephone had eaten something down in the Underworld. Tricked by Hades and starving, she ate 7 pomegrante seeds. According to what Zeus had said, she could not leave the Underworld. But, Zeus compromised to keep order. Persephone would spend 7 months of the year with his husband, Hades, and the other 5 months with his mother.

This legend explains the changes in seasons throughout the year. Fall through winter, Persephone acts as Queen of the Underworld and lives with Hades. Spring and summer are spent with her mother. Persephone became known as the Iron Queen/Goddess, Goddess of the Underworld and Queen of the Underworld because of her association with Hades.


 * Other Legends of the Iron Queen... **


 * **ORPEHEUS.** Orpeheus was a talented, well-known musician. But, after the death of his wife, Eurydice, he only played sad, mournful music that caused all who heard it to weep. He traveled to the Underworld (only person ever to do so) to convince Persephone and Hades with his music to return his wife. Though, Rulers of the Underworld were notorious for never releasing any soul from their clutches. But, Persephone was moved and agreed to return Eurydice to him on 1 condition: He was to walk in front of Eurydice and not glance back, even for a second, until they were both above ground. He agreed but just before reaching the top, turned around and lost his wife forever. Eurydice was the only soul ever returned.
 * **ADONIS.** Adonis was one of Aphrodite's consorts and she gave him to Persephone to watch over. However, Persephone was so entranced by his beauty she refused to give him back. This caused a big dispute between the 2 goddesses and it was decided that Adonis would spend 4 months with Aphrodite, 4 months with Persephone and 4 months wherever he chose. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">**ZAGERUS.** Zagerus is believed to be the son of Persephone and Zeus. The child made Hera, Zeus' wife jealous, and she persauded the Titans to kill him. It is said he was reborn after his still-beating heart was found and implanted in the mortal, Seleme. He was later associated with the god Dionysus.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"> Some Sites: <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">[|Greek Mythology Link- Persephone] [|Wikipedia- Persephone]