Friday, October 3, 2008

Persephone [Περσεφονηία]...change of seasons


Persephone symbolic/mythological natural explanation of physical phenomenon, bringing about the change of seasons as would be fitting since Fall has just begun. Sure, there are scientific explanations for the change of seasons but it is always soothing to think about the ancients and their explanations. Enjoy, the mythology of Persephone and the season.

Persephone is the goddess of the underworld in Greek mythology. She is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, goddess of the harvest. Persephone was such a beautiful young woman that everyone loved her, even Hades wanted her for himself. One day, when she was collecting flowers on the plain of Enna, the earth suddenly opened and Hades rose up from the gap and abducted her. None but Zeus, and the all-seeing sun, Helios, had noticed it. Broken-hearted, Demeter wandered the earth, looking for her daughter until Helios revealed what had happened. Demeter was so angry that she withdrew herself in loneliness, and the earth ceased to be fertile. Knowing this could not continue much longer, Zeus sent Hermes down to Hades to make him release Persephone. Hades grudgingly agreed, but before she went back he gave Persephone a pomegranate (or the seeds of a pomegranate, according to some sources). When she later ate of it, it bound her to underworld forever and she had to stay there one-third of the year. The other months she stayed with her mother. When Persephone was in Hades, Demeter refused to let anything grow and winter began. This myth is a symbol of the budding and dying of nature. In the Eleusinian mysteries, this happening was celebrated in honor of Demeter and Persephone, who was known in this cult as Kore.--Encyclopedia Mythica.

All will be fine for Persephone.

2 comments:

Priscilla said...

Persephone's story had always been one of my favorites since a child. Ironic that I started a new blog and you post about my name's sake.

Mercury said...

Persephone:

Irony is part of the spice of life as well as serendipitous events. I too am deep into ancient mythology. Granted, they crumble under the sharp scrutiny of science but they are immune from destruction for they provide the poetry, inspiration, and solace that humanity cannot discard. Persephone is a dynamic of existence.

:)