Persephone

The daughter of Zeus and Demeter, Persephone became the goddess of the underworld when Hades abducted her from the earth and brought her into the underworld. She was innocently playing with some nymphs in a field when he came; the nymphs were changed into the Sirens for not having interfered. Life came to a stand still as the depressed Demeter (goddess of the earth) searched for her lost daughter. Finally, Zeus could not put up with the dying earth and forced Hades to return Persephone. But before she was released, Hades tricked her into eating six pomegranate seeds, which forced her to return six months each year. When Demeter and her daughter were together, the earth flourished with vegetation. But for six months each year, when Persephone returned to the underworld, the earth once again became a barren realm. In alternate version, Hecate rescued Persephone.

Persephone, as Queen of Hades, only showed mercy once, because the music of Orpheus was so hauntingly sad. She allowed Orpheus to bring his wife, Eurydice, back to the land of the living as long as she walked behind him and he never tried to look at her face until they got to the surface. Orpheus agreed but failed and lost Eurydice forever.

When Hades pursued a nymph named Mintho, Persephone turned her into a mint plant.

Consorts/Children

1. Unknown father
   1. Iacchus

See also Proserpina

Alternatives: Kore, Despina