Persephone is the daughter of Demeter and Zeus - though some myths
say that the Great Goddess (as a Serpent) mated with the Primordial
Serpent and gave birth to Demeter, who then also mated in the form of
a Serpent to birth Persephone. Another myth like this puts
Persephone as the original mother of Dionysus.

Persephone was a beautiful and delightful goddess, who delighted in
all things beautiful and light. All the gods loved Her, and even the
cold Hades, from His kingdom in the Underworld, could not hide from
her light and joy. Hades was filled with love for the young goddess,
and decided He must make her His bride and Queen of the Underworld.
Hades knew that Demeter would never agree to such a match, and
decided to carry off the lovely Persephone instead. One day, when
Demeter and her daughter were on earth, Hades had His chance.

He opened up the earth and riding His chariot, carried the frightened
young Goddess down below to His realm of the Dead. There, he decked
Her with beautiful jewels, for such things were a part of His realm,
and clad her in the most sumptuous of linens, and there, He made
Persephone his Bride and Queen.

He offered many things to Persephone - jewels, cloths, food, drink -
none of which she would touch. She longed to be above ground, with
Her mother, in the light of the Sun where life flourished. Hades
told Persephone that his kingdom also possessed life, but needed Her
light and warmth to give them meaning. Hades offered Persephone 6
(some myths say 3 or 4) seeds of the Pomegranate - the Food of the
Dead, which Persephone ate.

After a time however, Zeus decreed that Persephone be returned to Her
mother and sent Hermes to fetch her from her new kingdom. Hades
allowed Persephone to return, and joyfully she was reunited with Her
mother, Demeter.

After learning however, that Persephone had tasted of the fruit of
the dead, Demeter began to grieve again, for she knew that now
Persephone must return to the kingdom of Hades. Mighty Zeus then
proposed a compromise. For each seed that Persephone ate, she must
spend one month with Her husband below in the Underworld.
So, now, each year as the Autumn Equinox approaches, Persephone
returns to the Underworld and Demeter grieves, withdrawing Her hand
from the land. And each year at the Vernal Equinox, Persephone
returns, and Demeter stretches forth Her hand and life flourishes
once more.

Festivals

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