Demeter and Persephone
When Hades abducts her daughter, Demeter
(the goddess of agriculture) makes the earth
turn cold and barren, until Persephone returns
from the underworld each spring.
DEMETER
In Greek mythology, the goddess of agriculture,
of harvest, and of grain; a type of the earth
goddess and the mother goddess. Her roman
cognate is CERES, the roman goddess of grain,
from whose name we derive the word “cereal.”
Persephone
The daughter of Zeus and Demeter; the Maiden
of Spring. Her Roman cognate is Proserpina.
HADES
The Greek god of the underworld, who rules
over the abode of the dead. His Roman cognate
is PLUTO, also known as DIS
Myths try to explain the world
Example: Why do we have the seasons?
According to Greek mythology, the goddess
responsible for the earth’s bounty was Demeter.
Her sweet daughter Persephone gladdened
Demeter’s heart, and Demeter’s love and
happiness kept the earth in bloom.
For an entire year Demeter refused to allow the
earth to bloom when Persephone was stolen
from her. All over the world people starved.
Concerned that the mortals would all die out,
leaving no one to worship them, the other gods
begged Zeus to talk to Demeter and recall her to
her duties.
Zeus’ Pity
Zeus took pity on the mother and daughter.
Since Persephone had only eaten one seed, and
had done so unwillingly , he decreed that she
would not have to stay in the underworld for an
entire year.
Instead , she would stay there for only half of
each year, and then in the other half of the year
she would be allowed to return to her mother.
Each year, during the months when Persephone
returns to her, Demeter makes the earth green
and blesses the harvest.
But during the months when Persephone has to
stay in the underworld, Demeter mourns, and in
her grief and loneliness she makes the earth
turn barren and cold.
Thus the seasons are explained.