Persephone

Persephone

        Persephone, dreaded Queen of the Underworld, is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She rules the Underworld with her husband, Hades. She is important to Greek mythology because of her place amongst the gods, a queen and a feared goddess. Her story is still read and spoken of today in popular literature and media. Persephone is viewed as strong and somewhat frightening, however, she can also be merciful according to the stories. “Although she spent only half of her life in the Underworld…after her abduction…she was dreaded forever afterward as the goddess of the Underworld. So feared was she that mortals often invoked her name in curses.” (infoplease.com)

There was time, before Hades, where Persephone was simply the cherished daughter of Demeter. “Persephone was an innocent maiden, a virgin who loved to play in the fields where eternal springtime reigned.” (infoplease.com) Her life changed drastically once the ruler of the underworld, Hades, fell in love with her and wanted her as a bride. Zeus consented to the marriage, Demeter on the other hand would never allow her daughter to marry him. So, knowing that their marriage would never be allowed by Demeter, Hades kidnapped Persephone and took her to the underworld. Outraged, Demeter wreaked havoc on the earth once she realized her daughter had been taken. “She roamed the earth in the guise of a mortal, forbidding the trees to bear fruit and the earth to nurture vegetables and herbs.” (greekmythology.com) A year passed while the earth remained unfertile and starvation was starting to harm those who lived there. Zeus realized that the mortals, those who worshipped him, would all die out if Demeter did not replenish the earth. Zeus demanded that Hades allow Persephone to reunite with her mother. “Persephone had not eaten a single thing—whether from sorrow, loss of appetite, or stubbornness—since her arrival in the Underworld…before she left, Hades urged Persephone to appease her terrible hunger by eating a single pomegranate seed.” (infoplease.com) Sadly, it was merely a trick, anyone that eats the ‘food of Hades’ is forever bonded to the Underworld. And so, Demeter allowed a compromise to occur, her daughter would stay with her for one part of the year and dwell in the underworld as queen for the other.

Persephone, although a fearsome queen, still had some good in her heart. For instance, there’s a myth about a mortal queen that Persephone shows mercy to, “Alcestis offered her own life in place of her dying husband's, Persephone sent her back from the Underworld and spared them both.” (infoplease.com) “Persephone also exhibited strong maternal feelings when Aphrodite entrusted her with safeguarding the infant Adonis.  Indeed, she became so enamored of the baby that she refused to give him back.” (greekmyths.com) By no means, were Persephone and Hades a loving couple, but it was clear that they were both protective over the other. Persephone would often thwart Hade’s attempts to seduce other women and Hades took his own revenge on any men that tried to take his bride.  It’s unclear if these actions are out of love or out of spite.