Persephone
Julia Cooley
Goddess of the changing seasons
Family history
Persephone was the daughter of Demeter and Zeus. She was married to Hades, the god of the underworld, and lived with him for six months each year. Persephone also had a baby by Zeus. His name was Zagreus.
The story of Persephone and Hades
Persephone, who was a beautiful young woman, was kidnapped by Hades and brought to the Underworld to become his queen. She was so sad that she refused to eat. Demeter, in her grief, caused the crops to wither and die, and the days became shorter and colder. Hades told Demeter that Persephone could return to the surface of the Earth if she did not eat any food in the Underworld. Meanwhile, Hades tricked Persephone into eating 6 pomegranate seeds. She would be allowed to return to Earth, but only for six months out of the year. This story was used by the ancient Greeks to explain the change of the seasons.
Demeter and Persephone
Persephone and Hades
Persephone and the pomegranate
Symbols
Powers and flaws
Persephone does not have any special powers, but her story with Hades is used to explain the change of the seasons. Her flaw would be that she must submit to her husband and lose her freedom for six months each year.
Works cited
Alchin, Linda. "Persephone." Tales Beyond Belief. Siteseen Ltd., June 2014. Web. 15 Dec.
2014.
Mills, Alice, Janet Parker, and Julie Stanton. Mythology: Myths, Legends, & Fantasies.
Willoughby, NSW: Global Book Pub., 2003. Print.