The Myth

Frieze of Demeter and Persephone consecrating Triptolemus, Athens, 430BCE.

Fairy tales, folklore, and campfire stories are all modern day usages of explaining good moral lessons and inevitable punishments to the ones who do wrong. These stories also are used to give a spin on why things are the way they are currently. In ancient Greco-Roman times, these stories were called myths. Many of these myths have survived the test of time, changing slightly here and there, but still held on to the main point and characters.

            The myth of Demeter and Persephone (or Ceres and Persephone to the Romans) is a myth that is still known and told today. It is a tale about mother’s love, the changing of seasons in life, and the transition of a girl to a woman. Yet to understand these meanings and representations, one must know her mother’s and her story.

            The myth begins with Demeter who is a wife a Zeus has a daughter named Persephone, who she loves dearly. One day while in a meadow, Persephone comes upon a flower known as narcissus. Attempting to get a better look at the flower, Persephone leans down to examine it. An abyss opens up underneath the narcissus, and Hades, the ruler of the Underworld, then springs forth from the abyss. It was then that Hades abducted Persephone to the underworld. However, Helios, the sun- god and Hecate, another divine being, witnessed this act.

            At the moment that Persephone was taken, Demeter became well aware of this loss and was filled with anguish. Therefore, she set out on a search for her child. Eventually, Demeter was informed by Hecate that Persephone was taken. Demeter decided to speak with Helios and Zeus at once. From these talks, Demeter learned that Zeus granted Hades permission to take Persephone to the Underworld in an attempt to make Persephone his wife.  Filled with sorrow and grief, Demeter’s feelings were soon felt by the world for crops did not grow and vegetation withered. 

Soon after, Zeus intervened by sending Hermes, the messenger of the gods, to the Underworld in order to ask Hades to release Persephone. Quite willingly, Hades agrees and proceeds to award Persephone with pomegranate seeds. Persephone, who was excited to go home, quickly swallowed the seeds.

Persephone was welcomed back by Demeter with happiness and tears of joy. However, Hades cuts the reunion short by demanding his rights for Persephone ate food from the Underworld, thus by law, she was obligated to stay there forever. Luckily, Zeus took pity on Demeter and convinced Hades to allow Persephone to live with her mother for six months of the year and the other six with him.  It was then that for a short time, the fields of the earth would spring back to life, and be abundant. Yet as soon as Persephone would return to the Underworld, the crops would wilt and die inversely as Demeter’s depression would grow. It was from this day that Persephone became queen of the Underworld. 

The myth of Demeter and Persephone is a common, but powerful story. This myth has survived through time in many ways. So with the background knowledge of the myth, it will become easier to understand how it has transformed and been interpreted over the span of history.

 Here is an animated short to explain the myth visually.

Works Cited:

Berens, E. M. "Demeter." The Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome. Boston:

            Longwood, 1979. Print.

Video:
"Persephone." Animated Tales of the World. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrmQYsMnl14&NR=1