The Myth of Hades & Persephone

There was once a time without seasons. Eternal summer. The three great brother gods, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, ruled three areas of earth. Hades was the one who ruled the Underworld. The realm of the souls who had passed away from physical life. People called it the land of the dead. But it wasn’t. The dead lay in the earth. Hades cared for the souls. They lived in a multi-leveled and vibrant world that lasted longer than their lives did on earth.

Hades was peevish, and the Underworld was out of balance. His restless eye landed on the beautiful Persephone, daughter of the earth Goddess, Demeter. So he went to his brother, Zeus, King of the Gods and ruler of all, and asked to take her for his wife. Zeus, wanting to appease his brother, gave permission.

One afternoon, while Persephone was admiring and picking flowers in a glade, Hades came roaring from under the earth and took her down to his dark realm. She was terrified. She came from sunlight, life, and blooms. Hades informed her that they would marry, but Persephone rejected him and fled into hiding within the halls of his underworld palace.

But Lord Hades, undaunted, wooed her. He made a beautiful bedchamber for her and presented to her precious gems and sent her jewelry, fine clothing and wine. Persephone refused these gifts. She wandered the halls, searching for a way out.

Meanwhile, on the surface, Persephone’s mother, Demeter, was lost in her grief and panic trying to find her missing daughter. Demeter was the Goddess of Earth, and without her attention, the plants and trees began to die. The people couldn’t grow crops. They cried out to Zeus, who finally told Demeter that he’d given Persephone to his brother.

Demeter was distraught. Earth experienced its first autumn and winter, and the people suffered.

In the Underworld, Persephone had resisted all food. For she knew that eating food in the Underworld meant you had to stay there. But the crafty Hades lay fine banquets for her daily. One day she grew so hungry, and thought no one was watching, she plucked and ate six seeds from a pomegranate.

Hades appeared victoriously to tell her she was his now and forever. But Zeus intervened. Demeter was so heartbroken from losing her daughter that the people on the surface were starving from missing her influence. So, Zeus commanded that Hades compromise. Six pomegranate seeds would equal six months. Persephone would spend half the year on the surface, and half the year in the underworld.

Hades reluctantly agreed, and Persephone was joyously reunited with her mother. The earth bloomed again.

When Persephone returned to the Underworld, she and Hades were married. As time went on, Persephone came to care for the souls and creatures of the Underworld and accept her position as their queen. She even came to love Hades. She declared her devotion to him, to her subjects and returned to earth and the underworld every six months.

So now, the earth has seasons. Seasons of blooming and abundance, and withering and darkness. But wherever Persephone goes, there is always spring and love. She even cracked the dark heart of the God of death.

Author’s note: The previous tale was taken from various myths and stories regarding Persephone. I compiled this version from those that I liked the best. I think Thomas Buckhorn would approve.