Greek Mythology

One day Persephone was out walking with her friends

She spotted the most beutiful flower she has ever seen and went to pick it

• ​However, the flower kept moving away from her as she approached it

• She was soon seperated from her friends

When she picked the flower, a hole opened beneath her and she was suddenly grabbed by Hades

Demeter, her mother, became curious and worried about the whereabouts of Persephone

• She searched everywhere in Greece in a human form, asking everyone if they had any information on Persephone

Demeter went to a village named Eleusis and sat near a well

• Three girls came to the well to get water and allowed Demeter to braid their hair

• The queen later asked the girls who braided their hair so beautifully because she wanted hers done too

• The queen was impressed with Demeter and says she can stay in Eleusis and take care of her son

They boy grew strong under Demeter's care, but then the queen became suspicious that things were going too well

• The queen spied on Demeter and saw her lay her son in the flames of the fire

The queen immediatley stops Demeter who claims that she was attempting to make the boy immortal

• Demeter says that she cannot make the boy immortal now that she was interrupted, but will still give the boy her blessing if the queen builds a temple in Eleusis for Persephone

• Demeter was hoping that Persephone would come to the new temple in honor of her, but she still did not return

Demeter falls into a deep depression and all the crops in the world begin to die, creating a massive famine

Zeus puts Hermes in charge of investigating the problem

• Hermes travels to Helios (the sun Titan) and asks if he has seen anything suspicious

• Helios says he saw Hades snatch Persephone

Hermes travels to the underworld and finds Persephone sitting on a throne next to Hades

• Hades claims that he loves her and does not want to let her leave

• Hermes says that what he is doing is immoral and that a famine is occuring on earth becase of Demeter's depression

Hermes convinces Hades to release Persephone, but only if he can speak with her privately first

• Hades talks to Persephone, tells her he loves her, and gives her a pomegranate

• Hades leaves and she starts to eat the seeds of the pomegranate

Hermes tells her that since she ate food in the underworld, she cannot leave

• She ate three seeds, so Hermes says that for three months out of every year, she must return to the underworld to be with Hades

  • This is why we have three months of winter

Persephone goes back to Demeter and everything on earth starts to grow again