Hades, Persephone, and Demeter
A Legend of Greacia
Persephone is the daughter of King Zeus and Lady Demeter, known from her birth as Kore, meaning ‘maiden’. She was, indeed still is, the delight of her mother, and the other Ancestors were moved by her beauty and grace. Especially enamoured of her was King Hades, but he knew that Demeter would not agree to his suit – so he went directly to her father who immediately agreed that the two should be wed.
Now, Persephone on this day was picking flowers in a meadow, singing as she did. Of a sudden she saw a narcissus with a hundred petals, maybe more, and a divine scent. She was entranced and stooped to pick it, but as she did the earth opened and King Hades snatched Persephone, who let out a scream, so startled was she, as she was carried away.
Demeter heard her child scream and came to search for her. Looking everywhere, searching by day and by night, she found no one willing or able to tell her what had happened. Eventually she encountered Hekate, who knew nothing of what had happened, but suggested that together they go to Helios, who sees all things. Helios told them what he had seen happen in the meadow, but also that it was done by King Zeus’ consent. Affronted and enraged that such a thing should be true, Demeter cast off her finery, threw down her crown of corn and put ashes in her hair. She then descended to the world of mortals and began her wandering, all the while refusing to attend to her divine duties so that nothing that lived in the ground would grow. She eventually came to Eleusis where the royal family there took her in. She came in secret, disguised as an old woman bowed with grief, and was tasked with caring for the youngest prince there, but an infant. All was well until the queen inadvertently offended her and, casting off her disguise and revealing her divinity, she demanded that a temple be built in her honour. All the while it was being built, Demeter stalked about Eleusis, but as soon as it was complete she moved into the sacred sanctum and refused to come out. Still nothing grew, and the people of the world began to starve. Finally, King Zeus sent Iris, but the Lady would not speak to the rainbow. Next he sent Lady Rhea, but Demeter turned her back upon her mother. Finally King Zeus himself came and Demeter consented to see him. She refused to return to Olympus though, not until Persephone was with her would she consider it. And so Hermes was sent to the Underworld and with little trouble returned Persephone, accompanied by King Hades. Overcome, Demeter held her child to her, but knew as she did that something was different, Persephone was no longer Kore. She demanded to know of her daughter what had occurred.
Meekly enough, but with an edge of defiance to her countenance, Persephone explained that she had cried out in surprise, and demanded of King Hades that she should be returned, but quickly she had come to realise that he was no mean match, Lord as he was over a whole third of creation, and she had with time come to understand that though pitiless, the King of the Dead was not without heart or kindness. In his house she ate from the pomegranate and became by her own consent his queen. King Hades said his wife should remain with him, but Demeter wept and said she would not return without Persephone and that nothing would grow until she did. The world languished in winter, people died of hunger and the kingdom of Hades swelled in number. Finally King Zeus came again and told Lady Demeter and King Hades how it would be: Queen Persephone would be with her husband and third of the year and with her mother for the rest. Rejoicing, Demeter returned with her daughter to Olympus and, alone, King Hades returned to the Underworld. Winter ended and crops again grew in the world.
But every year the Queen returns to her husband, and King Hades smiles whilst Demeter frowns and weeps and winter falls on the world.
(OC Author - Gillian Smart, after the Greek Myth)