The Story of Persephone
Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, the goddess of the harvest. As a young goddess she was often called Kore, the maiden. She grew up beside her mother, spending her days among the flowers and fields, with nymphs as her companions.
Hades, the king of the Underworld, fell in love with her and asked Zeus for her hand. Zeus agreed without telling Demeter. One day, as Persephone reached for a beautiful narcissus in a meadow, the earth split open, and Hades rode out in his golden chariot and carried her down into his kingdom.
Demeter heard her daughter's cry and searched the whole world for her, carrying torches through the night. With the help of Hecate and Helios, she learned the truth. In her grief and anger, she stopped all plants from growing, and famine spread across the earth.
With humanity starving and the gods losing their offerings, Zeus ordered Hades to let Persephone go. But before she left, Hades gave her a few pomegranate seeds, and she ate them. Anyone who tasted the food of the dead was bound to the Underworld, so Zeus ruled that she must spend part of every year below with Hades and the rest above with her mother.
From then on, the seasons followed Persephone's journey. While she was in the Underworld, Demeter mourned and the earth grew cold and bare. When she returned in spring, her mother rejoiced and the fields blossomed again.
As queen of the dead, Persephone was a powerful figure in her own right. When Orpheus came to the Underworld to win back his wife Eurydice, his song moved her to tears, and she persuaded Hades to let Eurydice go. She also quarreled with Aphrodite over the beautiful youth Adonis, until Zeus ruled that he would split his year between the two goddesses.
Persephone and Demeter were worshipped together in the Eleusinian Mysteries, the most famous secret rites of the ancient world. Initiates believed the mysteries promised them a better life after death. The Romans called her Proserpina, and her story remains one of the best known explanations of the changing seasons.
Famous Myths About Persephone
Taken by Hades
While Persephone was picking flowers in a meadow, the earth split open and Hades rode out in his chariot. He carried her down to the Underworld to be his queen, and her mother Demeter searched the world for her in grief.
The Pomegranate Seeds
Zeus finally ordered Hades to return Persephone, but before she left, Hades gave her pomegranate seeds to eat. Because she had tasted the food of the dead, she had to spend part of every year in the Underworld, bringing winter while she is gone.
The Contest over Adonis
Aphrodite hid the baby Adonis in a chest and gave it to Persephone to keep. Persephone fell in love with the boy herself and refused to return him, so Zeus ruled that Adonis would split his year between the two goddesses.
Moved by Orpheus
When Orpheus came to the Underworld to plead for his dead wife Eurydice, his song moved Persephone to tears. She convinced Hades to let Eurydice go, on the condition that Orpheus not look back.
Where to See Persephone in Greece
Persephone's Family Tree
Parents of Persephone
Husband and Partners of Persephone
Children of Persephone
Frequently Asked Questions About Persephone
Who is Persephone in Greek mythology?
Persephone is the queen of the underworld and the goddess of spring and vegetation. She was also known as Kore, meaning the maiden.
Who are Persephone's parents?
Persephone is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, the goddess of the harvest.
How did Persephone become queen of the underworld?
Hades, with the approval of Zeus, carried Persephone off to the underworld while she was picking flowers, and she became his wife and queen.
Why did Persephone eat the pomegranate seeds?
Before Persephone left the underworld, Hades gave her pomegranate seeds to eat. Anyone who ate the food of the dead had to stay, so she must spend part of every year with Hades, and the earth lies barren while she is away.
What are Persephone's symbols?
Persephone's symbols include the pomegranate, the torch, wheat and flowers.
What is Persephone's Roman name?
The Romans called Persephone Proserpina.
Explore More Minor Greek Gods
