One day when Persephone was picking violets (Viola odorata) and other plants.... the Earth opened and her uncle Hades, Lord of the Realm of the Dead, kidnapped her (the abduction of Persephone is a common theme in art: the Bernini sculpture in the Palace Villa/Galleria Borghese, Rome is an excellent example).
Persephone was the daughter of the goddess Demeter (both simply known as "The Goddesses") who ruled over the crops (especially wheat and other cereals). The mother tried to find her daughter during many weeks, looking for her in many places (there were specific places that the ancients said to have been visited by Demeter during her quest, where she had rested, etc.). When she finally knew the bitter fate of her daughter, she did not accept it and demanded that Persephone should returned to her.
An eternal law ruling all (including gods) said that whoever eat something in the Realm of the Dead could not return to the World of the Living .... Turns out that while in the Underworld, Persephone ate some pomegranate seeds .... so she could not return to her mother….but her mother threatened to kill all Humans by preventing the grain from growing in the fields ands the Fates and the Gods accepted that Persephone could return, but only for six months (not in vain had she broken an Eternal Law ....).
When Demeter receives Persephone, after six months of absence, her heart rejoices, full of joy and the fields are full of life (Spring ).... as time goes by the sweetness of the reunion gives way to the heat of Summer ...and Persephone must now go back to the Underworld ... her mother is sad again (Autumn ).... she misses her daughter (Winter) .. ... but behold, Persephone returns…and it is Spring is back again..... with this myth the Greeks explained the succession of the seasons .... a Law of Eternal Return ..... linked to the passion of Persephone for the pomegranate (Punica granatum).
Painting by Lord Leighton (c.1891).
Persephone was the daughter of the goddess Demeter (both simply known as "The Goddesses") who ruled over the crops (especially wheat and other cereals). The mother tried to find her daughter during many weeks, looking for her in many places (there were specific places that the ancients said to have been visited by Demeter during her quest, where she had rested, etc.). When she finally knew the bitter fate of her daughter, she did not accept it and demanded that Persephone should returned to her.
An eternal law ruling all (including gods) said that whoever eat something in the Realm of the Dead could not return to the World of the Living .... Turns out that while in the Underworld, Persephone ate some pomegranate seeds .... so she could not return to her mother….but her mother threatened to kill all Humans by preventing the grain from growing in the fields ands the Fates and the Gods accepted that Persephone could return, but only for six months (not in vain had she broken an Eternal Law ....).
When Demeter receives Persephone, after six months of absence, her heart rejoices, full of joy and the fields are full of life (Spring ).... as time goes by the sweetness of the reunion gives way to the heat of Summer ...and Persephone must now go back to the Underworld ... her mother is sad again (Autumn ).... she misses her daughter (Winter) .. ... but behold, Persephone returns…and it is Spring is back again..... with this myth the Greeks explained the succession of the seasons .... a Law of Eternal Return ..... linked to the passion of Persephone for the pomegranate (Punica granatum).
Painting by Lord Leighton (c.1891).
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