The Myth of Persephone

Persephone, was the daughter of Demeter and Zeus, and said to be the most beautiful of the goddesses, rivalling even Aphrodite. Apollo, Ares and Hermes- all asked for her hand in marriage, but Demeter refused them, seeing her daughter as sacred.

Hades, lord of the dead, fell in love with her; and rather than ask her mother, he asked Zeus, who would neither give nor withhold his permission. One day, Demeter went to visit her mother Cybele, and left Persephone in Enna Vale. Aphrodite, having heard of Hades' plan, decided to help it along, she lured Persephone out of the house, and they wandered through the vale. Persephone strayed farther than the rest. Zeus caused a flower to spring forth- a narcissus, black and violet and silver, to ensnare his daughter. Persephone saw it, and went to pick it; and when she did, the earth split beneath her feet, and Hades sprang out. He siezed her and dragged her down into the earth.

Demeter returned home and found her daughter gone. From then on, she refused to let the earth be fertile, until someone would tell her where Persephone was. Zeus forbade the other gods to tell her, on pain of suffering Hades' displeasure- Demeter would surely take Persephone back if she knew. Demeter blighted the earth, and mankind was on the brink of extinction.

Zeus sent Hermes to reclaim the girl. Before Hades would give her up, he tricked her into eating a pomegranate seed, thus binding her to the Underworld. Demeter, Persephone and Zeus eventually struck up a bargain: Persephone would spend six months with Hades, six with Demeter. This is said to be the origin of the seasons. Persephone's transitions between the realms of life and death represent the growth of plants in spring, and their death in autumn/winter.