Persephone (Proserpina)

Persephone's attitude can vary depending on the myth or interpretation. She is often depicted as a complex character who embodies both darkness and light, having experienced both the underworld and the world above. She can exhibit qualities of compassion, resilience, and strength, as well as a deep connection to cycles of life, death, and rebirth.

Persephone is important in Greek mythology as the queen of the underworld and the daughter of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture. Her story of being abducted by Hades and spending part of the year in the underworld and part of the year on Earth explains the changing of the seasons. Persephone represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

Persephone went into mourning after Persephone was kidnapped, and threatened that she would not let any crops grow until her daughter was returned to her. For a whole year, she kept the world from bearing food, particularly grain. A famine soon struck and Zeus, afraid that she would destroy humanity, sent Hermes to tell Hades to release Persephone.

Hades abducted Persephone to make her his queen in the underworld, as she was the daughter of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture. Persephone eventually came to care for Hades and chose to stay with him, leading to their union.

The central idea of the story of Demeter and Persephone is the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. It explores themes of change, transformation, and the interconnectedness of the seasons with the natural world and human experiences. It also symbolizes the mother-daughter relationship and the power dynamics between generations.

There is no moral, it is the ancient reasoning behind the seasons of spring/summer and winter.

Persephone is the goddess of the underworld in Greek mythology. She is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, goddess of the harvest. Persephone was such a beautiful young woman that everyone loved her, even Hades wanted her for himself. One day, when she was collecting flowers on the plain of Enna, the earth suddenly opened and Hades rose up from the gap and abducted her. None but Zeus, and the all-seeing sun, Helios, had noticed it.

Broken-hearted, Demeter wandered the earth, looking for her daughter until Helios revealed what had happened. Demeter was so angry that she withdrew herself in loneliness, and the earth ceased to be fertile. Knowing this could not continue much longer, Zeus sent Hermes down to Hades to make him release Persephone. Hades grudgingly agreed, but before she went back he gave Persephone a pomegranate (or the seeds of a pomegranate, according to some sources). When she later ate of it, it bound her to underworld forever and she had to stay there one-third of the year. The other months she stayed with her mother. When Persephone was in Hades, Demeter refused to let anything grow and winter began. This myth is a symbol of the budding and dying of nature.

Athene and Artemis are said to have been raised with her. With her Demeter is often seen along with Triptolemus and her lover Adonis. Hecate is said to be her companion in the Underworld, alongside her husband Hades.

The Furies who are her servants and named here;

Tisiphone

Megaria

Alekto

The Sirens are said to have been her handmaidens before her kidnapping, their names;

Aglaopheme

Thelxiepeia

Peisinoë

Aglaope

Parthenope

Ligeia

Leucosia

The Horae, goddesses of the seasons, are said to be companions to Persephone as she ventures from the earth and Underworld, they are named;

Eunomia or Thalo, summer and order.

Eirene, spring and peace.

Dike, winter and justice.

Carpo, autumn.

Mind, these were not always clearly distinguishable from the twelve "Hours" of the day perhaps also of the twelve months of the year who were called Horae and were named thus;

Arctus

Dysis

Hesperis

Acte

Elete

Sponde

Mesembria

Nympha

Gymnastica

Musica

Anatole

Auge

Persephone was honest. She was known for being loyal and true to those she cared about, especially to her mother Demeter and her husband Hades.

Persephone is important in Greek mythology because she is the queen of the underworld and embodies the changing of seasons through her abduction by Hades and eventual return to the surface. She represents themes of growth, rebirth, and the cycle of life and death. Additionally, her story is a central myth explaining the origins of the seasons.

Persephone is often depicted as gentle, empathetic, and nurturing. She is also known for her resilience and ability to adapt to difficult situations, as seen in her role as both the Queen of the Underworld and the goddess of spring and renewal.

Hades persuaded Persephone to stay with him in the Underworld by offering her a position of power and privilege as queen. He also reminded her of the benefits and pleasures she could enjoy in the Underworld, such as being by his side and ruling over the souls of the dead.

Persephone was often portrayed as a gentle and kind goddess, with a nurturing and compassionate nature. She was also seen as independent and strong-willed, as demonstrated by her descent into the underworld and balancing her roles as both queen of the underworld and goddess of spring.

Persephone is typically portrayed as having two distinct personalities: the gentle, nurturing side as the goddess of spring and vegetation, and the powerful, assertive side as the queen of the underworld alongside her husband, Hades. This duality reflects her role as a goddess associated with both life and death.

Persephone was initially unhappy living on Earth after being abducted by Hades. She longed for her mother Demeter and her former life in the daylight. However, over time she adapted to her new role as Queen of the Underworld and found meaning in her responsibilities.

Persephone is responsible for guiding and overseeing the transition of souls from the world of the living to the underworld. Additionally, she is associated with the changing of the seasons as her time spent in the underworld corresponds with winter.

She was Queen of the Underworld and goddess of Spring: Persephone's traits tied to these aspects of her being a Greek goddess - it also depends on the situation and myth.

Persephone is often depicted as gentle, empathetic, and compassionate. She is also known for her resilience and strength, as she had to navigate both the underworld and the world above, embodying aspects of life and death. Despite her complex situation, she is typically portrayed as a kind and nurturing figure.

In Greek mythology, Persephone had several siblings, including Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, and Dionysus, among others. She was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter.

Persephone is often associated with springtime, renewal, and growth. She is known for her duality as both a queen of the underworld and a bringer of life and fertility to the earth. Some of her key traits include compassion, resilience, and a sense of balance between light and darkness.

Persephone is the daughter of Demeter and she is the goddess of the corn, wheat and all things that grow on the land. Demeter controls the growth of everything that becomes our food and the food of all animals and she was an amazingly powerful goddess, her cult was mainly amongst women and still today she is remembered under many names by the pagan witches and those who follow the old paths. But back to Persephone. Persephone is the young daughter of Demeter, it is said that within her eyes can be seen the flight of beautiful birds, her hair is shinning and wonderful, she is the maid for ever young, forever beautiful. It is for this reason that she was kidnapped one day by Hades, the lord of the underworld and the brother of the chief of all gods and men Zeus. Now Hades stole her and carried her down into the earth where he looked after her and showered her with love. She became his queen. In the meantime Demeter (Persephone's mother and the goddess of the wheat, searched high and low for her daughter but could not find her. In her sorrow she forgot the land and the world became cold and the crops failed. Flowers died and people starved. If it was not for Zeus the whole race would have died, he alone new that Persephone had been taken to the underworld. In the end Demeter held Zeus to ransom and vowed that she would allow the world to perish unless Persephone was given back. In the end Zeus intervened and Persephone returned from the underworld and was reunited with Demeter. Hades however is a crafty God and he encouraged Persephone to eat the seeds of a pomegranate from the underworld. This act meant that for six months of the year Persephone has to return back to Hades and her mother Demeter once again grieves and the land becomes barren. When Persephone returns the spring finally breaks once more and the sun whines and the crops ripen. Even today it is hard to decide if the return of the spring is not the return of a beautiful maiden, one whose eyes reflect blue Sky's and delicate birds and who is scented with the delicate fragrance of wild flowers and who is reunited with the mother of the crops so that we may all live another year under the warmth of the sun. May the gods be blessed!

Spring (Persephone returns, Demeter allows the Earth to give life)

Winter (Persephone as Queen of Underworld/Dead, Demeter mourning)

Death (Persephone/Demeter - separating decent)

Life (Persephone/Demeter - on Earth)

Persephone is the only daughter of Demeter (Ceres) the Goddess of the Harvest and Zeus. Hades, god of the underworld, loved Persephone's beauty and kidnapped her and brought her to the underworld. When Zeus had discovered what Hades had done, he sent Hermes to the underworld demanding Persephone were released. Hades obliged but insisted the Persephone eat a pomegranate seed before he left. Thinking nothing of it, she agreed not knowing it would force her to stay in the underworld. Zeus and Demeter were furious so they struck a deal with Hades letting her live half the year above the surface ans spend half of it below, with Hades. Whenever Persephone has to retreat back to the underworld, Demeter gets horribly depressed and refuses to let anything grow, hence fall and winter, and when she is back, Demeter is happy and spring and summer flourish.

Languages may "die" out, with the speakers, and the speakers are mortal - but Persephone is Queen of the Underworld where all dead dwell. Thus, language is no limit to Persephone who may learn any language the dead had known.