THE STORY OF PERSEPHONE
In the beginning of time, there was no winter. Every day the
sun shone and showers lasted only long enough to make a rainbow.
Trees had leaves all year round, and bore fruit and flowers
together. After defeating the Titans, the three most powerful
gods of Olympus drew lots to decide how to share out this fresh
new world between them. They shook the lots in a helmet, and
each god drew the lot that suited him best. Zeus, the mightiest
of the gods, became lord of the earth and sky and ruled them
with his thunderbolts. His brother, blustery Poseidon, won the
seas and took delight in making floods and gales. The third
brother, gloomy and morose Hades, became king of the
underworld-land of the dead.
From his underground kingdom, Hades looked enviously at
the world above. He was pleased to rule the shadows whose
earthly life was over, for his subjects could never escape. There
are no rebels in my kingdom, he boasted grimly. But he dearly
longed for a little of life’s warmth to cheer his icy palace. He had
seen on earth a young girl so beautiful that she outshone
everyone, yet so happy that she was never without companions.
Her name was Persephone. Hades wanted her as his queen.
Mounting his chariot, drawn by black horses, Hades rode to
Mount Olympus and demanded that Zeus should give him
Persephone as his bride. Zeus was cautious. He could not please
Hades without angering Persephone’s mother, the powerful
goddess Demeter, who caused all living things to grow. She made
seeds sprout, and blossoms open, and fruits swell. The thought of
her daughter living in the dim underworld would be hateful to her.
So Zeus’s answer was diplomatic. “That might be an
excellent idea,” he said, “a little later on.”
For several days, Hades sat brooding on his iron throne.
Then he leapt into his chariot and rode his black horses out of
the earth and snatched up Persephone as she was gathering wild
flowers in a meadow. He galloped away with her and the earth
closed over them. Her companions heard her shrieks and came
running, but they could find no trace of her, nothing but a bunch
of flowers she had let fall on the grass.
When Demeter learned that her daughter had vanished, she
wrapped herself in a long, dark cloak and went out into the world
to look for her. She wandered for nine days and nights, asking
every living creature for news of Persephone. No one had seen
her. She was returning weary and heartbroken, when she saw a
piece of ribbon in a deep cleft among the grass. It was
Persephone’s girdle. Not knowing what this could mean, but full of
dread, she sank down upon a stone and wept. Then, Helios, the
god who drives the sun across the sky, came to her at nightfall
and told her that from his chariot he had seen Persephone
carried off by Hades to be queen of the underworld.
Then, Demeter’s sorrow turned to terrible rage. She vowed
that nothing should grow on earth until her daughter was given
back to her. No one could make the angry goddess change her
mind. When farmers sowed their fields, the seeds rotted in the
ground; the stems of plants withered, and the trees lost their
leaves; fruits shriveled and the corn grew mildewed. The people
of the earth were in despair and starving. The blamed the gods
and harassed them with never-ending prayers to put things right.
Zeus saw that he must take action. He sent his son Hermes, the
silver-tongued messenger of the gods, to plead with Hades.
Hermes was the only god likely to talk Hades into parting
with his bride. Though the gods’ messenger was as nimble as the
air through which he darted on winged sandals, his wits were
nimbler still. Humbly, and with a charming smile, he presented
himself before Hades, who sat enthroned, with pale-lipped
Persephone by his side. She seemed a shadow of herself for,
despite Hades’ coaxing, she had refused to eat a morsel since he
had brought her there.
“Great lord,” began Hermes, “the gods of Olympus are
impressed by the changes you have brought about in the world.”
“The people are all dying,” agreed Hermes. “How will your
empire grow when there are no new souls to swell it? Have pity on
the world. Think of the future and let Persephone go.”
Hades gave him a long look, and then sighed as if his heart
were broken. “Take her,” he said, “and I will rule alone.”
Joyfully, Hermes led Persephone back to the day. Demeter
flung her arms round her daughter to kiss he, but then she dew
back in alarm. She had felt the cold touch of the underworld upon
her daughter’s cheek. “Did you eat anything in Hades’ kingdom?”
she asked her anxiously.
“Nothing, mother,” Persephone replied. “But I was so thirsty
that Hades gave me a pomegranate to suck and I swallowed seven
of its seeds.”
Then, Demeter knew that Hades had tricked her, for no one
who eats the food of the dead can escape the underworld.
Even all-powerful Zeus could not alter this law, but he made
Hades accept a compromise. For half of each year, Persephone
must reign in the underworld. Then, Demeter’s sorrow makes the
earth grow cold; leaves fall and plants hide in the soil; winter
comes. But, for the rest of the year Persephone is restored to
her mother, the first flowers appear, and spring returns.
Demeter forgets her grief, and the earth teems with life again.