{"id":369,"date":"2022-02-08T14:06:55","date_gmt":"2022-02-08T14:06:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/godsandgoddesses.org\/?post_type=greek&p=369"},"modified":"2022-03-14T12:06:15","modified_gmt":"2022-03-14T12:06:15","slug":"persephone","status":"publish","type":"greek","link":"https:\/\/godsandgoddesses.org\/greek\/persephone\/","title":{"rendered":"Persephone"},"content":{"rendered":"

Persephone is the goddess<\/a> of the underworld in Greek mythology. She is the daughter of Zeus<\/a> and Demeter<\/a>, goddess of the harvest. Persephone was a beautiful girl and everyone loved her. Even Hades , brother of Zeus and king of the Underworld, wanted her for himself.<\/p>\n

When she was a young maiden, she and the Oceanids were collecting flowers on the plain of Enna, when suddenly the earth opened and Hades<\/a> rose up from the gap in his chariot, pulled by magnificent black stallions. He abducted her and none but Zeus and the sun god Helios had noticed it.<\/p>\n

Broken-hearted, Demeter wandered the earth, looking for her daughter until Helios<\/a>, the all-seeing, revealed to her what had happened. Demeter was so angry that she withdrew herself in loneliness, and all fertility on earth stopped. Plants, flowers and trees withered and died and crops didn’t grow. The earth grew barren and all the creatures began to starve. Winter and cold came.<\/p>\n

Finally, Zeus sent Hermes<\/a> down to Hades to make him release Persephone. Hades grudgingly agreed, but before she went back the sly king of the Underworld gave Persephone a pomegranate to eat. She ate seven seeds of the fruit and by so doing, she was forever connected to the realm of Hades and had to stay there one-third of the year. The other months she remained with her mother.<\/p>\n

During the time Persephone was in Hades, Demeter refused to let anything grow, plants and crops died and winter began. When Persephone rejoined her mother three months later springtime returned and earth came back to life. This myth is a symbol of the budding and dying of nature. In the Eleusinian mysteries, this happening was celebrated in honor of Demeter and Persephone, who was known in this cult as Kore, or daughter.<\/p>\n

The Romans called her Proserpina.<\/p>\n

Pronunciation – {pur-sef’-uh-nee}<\/p>\n

Meaning of name – “She who destroys the light”<\/p>\n

Below is an extract from Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch which covers the tale of Persephone, Demeter and Hades in more detail, Bullfinch often used the Roman names for the Greek deities<\/a> in his writing:<\/p>\n

WHEN Jupiter<\/a> and his brothers had defeated the Titans and banished them to Tartarus, a new enemy rose up against the gods. They were the giants Typhon, Briareus, Enceladus, and others. Some of them had a hundred arms, others breathed out fire. They were finally subdued and buried alive under Mount AEtna, where they still sometimes struggle to get loose, and shake the whole island with earthquakes. Their breath comes up through the mountain, and is what men call the eruption of the volcano.<\/p>\n

The fall of these monsters shook the earth, so that Pluto<\/a> (Hades) was alarmed, and feared that his kingdom would be laid open to the light of day. Under this apprehension, he mounted his chariot, drawn by black horses, and took a circuit of inspection to satisfy himself of the extent of the damage. While he was thus engaged, Venus (Aphrodite), who was sitting on Mount Eryx playing with her boy Cupid<\/a>, espied him, and said, “My son, take your darts with which you conquer all, even Jove himself, and send one into the breast of yonder dark monarch, who rules the realm of Tartarus. Why should he alone escape? Seize the opportunity to extend your empire and mine. Do you not see that even in heaven some despise our power? Minerva<\/a> (Athena) the wise, and Diana (Artemis) the huntress, defy us; and there is that daughter of Ceres (Demeter), who threatens to follow their example. Now do you, if you have any regard for your own interest or mine, join these two in one.”<\/p>\n

The boy unbound his quiver, and selected his sharpest and truest arrow; then straining the bow against his knee, he attached the string, and, having made ready, shot the arrow with its barbed point right into the heart of Pluto (Hades).<\/p>\n

In the vale of Enna there is a lake embowered in woods, which screen it from the fervid rays of the sun, while the moist ground is covered with flowers, and Spring reigns perpetual. Here Proserpine was playing with her companions, gathering lilies and violets, and filling her basket and her apron with them, when Pluto saw her, loved her, and carried her off.<\/p>\n

She screamed for help to her mother and companions; and when in her fright she dropped the corners of her apron and let the flowers fall, childlike she felt the loss of them as an addition to her grief. The ravisher urged on his steeds, calling them each by name, and throwing loose over their heads and necks his iron-coloured reins. When he reached the River Cyane (Styx), and it opposed his passage, he struck the river-bank with his trident, and the earth opened and gave him a passage to Tartarus.<\/p>\n

Ceres sought her daughter all the world over. Bright-haired Aurora (Eos<\/a>), when she came forth in the morning, and Hesperus (Helios) when he led out the stars in the evening, found her still busy in the search. But it was all unavailing. At length, weary and sad, she sat down upon a stone, and continued sitting nine days and nights, in the open air, under the sunlight and moonlight and falling showers.<\/p>\n

It was where now stands the city of Eleusis, then the home of an old man named Celeus. He was out on the field, gathering acorns and blackberries, and sticks for his fire. His little girl was driving home their two goats, and as she passed the goddess, who appeared in the guise of an old woman, she said to her, “Mother,”- and the name was sweet to the ears of Ceres,- “why do you sit here alone upon the rocks?” The old man also stopped, though his load was heavy, and begged her to come into his cottage, such as it was. She declined, and he urged her. “Go in peace,” she replied, “and be happy in your daughter; I have lost mine.”<\/p>\n

As she spoke, tears- or something like tears, for the gods never weep- fell down her cheeks upon her bosom. The compassionate old man and his child wept with her. Then said he, “Come with us, and despise not our humble roof; so may your daughter be restored to you in safety.” “Lead on,” said she, “I cannot resist that appeal!” So she rose from the stone and went with them. As they walked he told her that his only son, a little boy, lay very sick, feverish, and sleepless. She stooped and gathered some poppies.<\/p>\n

As they entered the cottage, they found all in great distress, for the boy seemed past hope of recovery. Metanira, his mother, received her kindly, and the goddess stooped and kissed the lips of the sick child. Instantly the paleness left his face, and healthy vigour returned to his body. The whole family were delighted- that is, the father, mother, and little girl, for they were all; they had no servants.<\/p>\n

They spread the table, and put upon it curds and cream, apples, and honey in the comb. While they ate, Ceres mingled poppy juice in the milk of the boy. When night came and all was still, she arose, and taking the sleeping boy, moulded his limbs with her hands, and uttered over him three times a solemn charm, then went and laid him in the ashes. His mother, who had been watching what her guest was doing, sprang forward with a cry and snatched the child from the fire. Then Ceres assumed her own form, and a divine splendour shone all around.<\/p>\n

While they were overcome with astonishment, she said, “Mother, you have been cruel in your fondness to your son. I would have made him immortal, but you have frustrated my attempt. Nevertheless, he shall be great and useful. He shall teach men the use of the plough, and the rewards which labour can win from the cultivated soil.” So saying, she wrapped a cloud about her, and mounting her chariot rode away.<\/p>\n

Ceres continued her search for her daughter, passing from land to land, and across seas and rivers, till at length she returned to Sicily, whence she at first set out, and stood by the banks of the River Cyane, where Pluto made himself a passage with his prize to his own dominions. The river nymph would have told the goddess all she had witnessed, but dared not, for fear of Pluto; so she only ventured to take up the girdle which Proserpine had dropped in her flight, and waft it to the feet of the mother.<\/p>\n

Ceres, seeing this, was no longer in doubt of her loss, but she did not yet know the cause, and laid the blame on the innocent land. “Ungrateful soil,” said she, “which I have endowed with fertility and clothed with herbage and nourishing grain, no more shall you enjoy my favours.” Then the cattle died, the plough broke in the furrow, the seed failed to come up; there was too much sun, there was too much rain; the birds stole the seeds- thistles and brambles were the only growth. Seeing this, the fountain Arethusa interceded for the land.<\/p>\n

“Goddess,” said she, “blame not the land; it opened unwillingly to yield a passage to your daughter. I can tell you of her fate, for I have seen her. This is not my native country; I came hither from Elis. I was a woodland nymph, and delighted in the chase. They praised my beauty, but I cared nothing for it, and rather boasted of my hunting exploits. One day I was returning from the wood, heated with exercise, when I came to a stream silently flowing, so clear that you might count the pebbles on the bottom. The willows shaded it, and the grassy bank sloped down to the water’s edge. I approached, I touched the water with my foot. I stepped in knee-deep, and not content with that, I laid my garments on the willows and went in. While I sported in the water, I heard an indistinct murmur coming up as out of the depths of the stream; and made haste to escape to the nearest bank. The voice said, ‘Why do you fly, Arethusa? I am Alpheus, the god of this stream.’ I ran, he pursued; he was not more swift than I, but he was stronger, and gained upon me, as my strength failed. At last, exhausted, I cried for help to Diana (Artemis). ‘Help me, goddess! help your votary!’ The goddess heard, and wrapped me suddenly in a thick cloud. The river god looked now this way and now that, and twice came close to me, but could not find me. ‘Arethusa! Arethusa!’ he cried. Oh, how I trembled,- like a lamb that hears the wolf growling outside the fold. A cold sweat came over me, my hair flowed down in streams; where my foot stood there was a pool. In short, in less time than it takes to tell it, I became a fountain. But in this form Alpheus knew me and attempted to mingle his stream with mine. Diana cleft the ground, and I, endeavouring to escape him, plunged into the cavern, and through the bowels of the earth came out here in Sicily. While I passed through the lower parts of the earth, I saw your Proserpine. She was sad, but no longer showing alarm in her countenance. Her look was such as became a queen- the queen of Erebus; the powerful bride of the monarch of the realms of the dead.”<\/p>\n

When Ceres heard this, she stood for a while like one stupefied; then turned her chariot towards heaven, and hastened to present herself before the throne of Jove. She told the story of her bereavement, and implored Jupiter to interfere to procure the restitution of her daughter. Jupiter consented on one condition, namely, that Proserpine should not during her stay in the lower world have taken any food; otherwise, the Fates forbade her release. Accordingly, Mercury was sent, accompanied by Spring (Chloris), to demand Proserpine of Pluto. The wily monarch consented; but, alas! the maiden had taken a pomegranate which Pluto offered her, and had sucked the sweet pulp from a few of the seeds. This was enough to prevent her complete release; but a compromise was made, by which she was to pass half the time with her mother, and the rest with her husband Pluto.<\/p>\n

Ceres allowed herself to be pacified with this arrangement, and restored the earth to her favour. Now she remembered Celeus and his family, and her promise to his infant son Triptolemus. When the boy grew up, she taught him the use of the plough, and how to sow the seed. She took him in her chariot, drawn by winged dragons, through all the countries of the earth, imparting to mankind valuable grains, and the knowledge of agriculture. After his return, Triptolemus built a magnificent temple to Ceres in Eleusis, and established the worship of the goddess, under the name of the Eleusinian mysteries, which, in the splendour and solemnity of their observance, surpassed all other religious celebrations among the Greeks.<\/p>\n

There can be little doubt of this story of Ceres and Proserpine being an allegory. Proserpine signifies the seed-corn which when cast into the ground lies there concealed – that is, she is carried off by the god of the underworld. It reappears – that is, Proserpine is restored to her mother. Spring leads her back to the light of day.<\/p>\n

Milton alludes to the story of Proserpine in “Paradise Lost,” Book IV.:<\/p>\n

“…Not that fair field
\nOf Enna where Proserpine gathering flowers,
\nHerself a fairer flower, by gloomy Dis
\nWas gathered, which cost Ceres all that pain
\nTo seek her through the world,-
\n…might with this Paradise
\nOf Eden strive.”<\/p>\n

Hood, in his “Ode to Melancholy,” uses the same allusion very beautifully:<\/p>\n

“Forgive, if somewhile I forget,
\nIn woe to come the present bliss;
\nAs frighted Proserpine let fall
\nHer flowers at the sight of Dis.”<\/p>\n

The River Alpheus does in fact disappear underground, in part of its course, finding its way through subterranean channels till it again appears on the surface. It was said that the Sicilian fountain Arethusa was the same stream, which, after passing under the sea, came up again in Sicily. Hence the story ran that a cup thrown into the Alpheus appeared again in Arethusa. It is this fable of the underground course of Alpheus that Coleridge alludes to in his poem of “Kubla Khan”:<\/p>\n

“In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
\nA stately pleasure-dome decree,
\nWhere Alph, the sacred river, ran
\nThrough caverns measureless to man,
\nDown to a sunless sea.”<\/p>\n

In one of Moore’s juvenile poems he thus alludes to the same story, and to the practice of throwing garlands or other light objects on his stream to be carried downward by it, and afterwards reproduced at its emerging:<\/p>\n

“O my beloved, how divinely sweet
\nIs the pure joy when kindred spirits meet!
\nLike him the river god, whose waters flow,
\nWith love their only light, through caves below,
\nWafting in triumph all the flowery braids
\nAnd festal rings, with which Olympic maids
\nHave decked his current, as an offering meet
\nTo lay at Arethusa’s shining feet.
\nThink, when he meets at last his fountain bride,
\nWhat perfect love must thrill the blended tide!
\nEach lost in each, till mingling into one,
\nTheir lot the same for shadow or for sun,
\nA type of true love, to the deep they run.”<\/p>\n

The following extract from Moore’s “Rhymes on the Road” gives an account of a celebrated picture by Albano, at Milan, called a Dance of Loves:<\/p>\n

“‘Tis for the theft of Enna’s flower from earth
\nThese urchins celebrate their dance of mirth,
\nRound the green tree, like fays upon a heath;-
\nThose that are nearest Linked in order bright,
\nCheek after cheek, like rosebuds in a wreath;
\nAnd those more distant showing from beneath
\nThe others’ wings their little eyes of light.
\nWhile see! among the clouds, their eldest brother,
\nBut just flown up, tells with a smile of bliss,
\nThis prank of Pluto to his charmed mother,
\nWho turns to greet the tidings with a kiss.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","categories":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/godsandgoddesses.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/greek\/369"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/godsandgoddesses.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/greek"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/godsandgoddesses.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/greek"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/godsandgoddesses.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=369"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/godsandgoddesses.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}