There are many gods and goddesses from ancient Greek mythology whose names are as recognisable today as they were in days gone by. Persephone may not be the most well known of Greek goddesses but her role in the life of ancient Greeks cannot be overlooked. Persephone was the goddess of agriculture, the harvest and the seasons, as well as being provided with the title of Persephone Goddess of the Underworld.

Persephone was born out of the union between Zeus, supreme ruler of Greek mythology, and his sister, Demeter, one of the original deities of Mount Olympus. Persephone could have wished for no higher parentage, but her roots did not give her a place in Mount Olympus unlike many other second generation Olympians. She did though grow up to be a beautiful maiden, providing Persephone with a second name of Kore, and was allowed to live as a part of Nature. Persephone was given a role planting and looking after flowers and plants.

Growing up away from the other gods though did not mean that she went unnoticed, and her beauty soon attracted the attention of the Olympian gods, Hephaestus, Apollo, Hermes and Ares. Demeter though ensured that all advances for her daughter were rejected. Hades, brother to Zeus, though was not easily deterred.

As Persephone went about her daily work of picking flowers, with some other nymphs, when Hades left his domain and abducted her. Demeter was devastated by the loss of her daughter, and in her anger turned the nymphs into Sirens for failing to protect Persephone.

Demeter wandered to all corners of the earth in search for her daughter, and the land became infertile as she continued looking. Helios, the sun god, who sees everything, eventually told Demeter what had happened to Persephone. Knowing though did little to help Demeter, as Hades ruled his domain, and Demeter would be powerless against him. The land though was not producing food, and the population of the world were starving.

Zeus knew that he could not let the situation continue, so sent Hermes to visit his brother to secure the release of Persephone. Hades would not go against a command from Zeus, but he was still reluctant to release the goddess he desired. Thus he tricked Persephone to eat some pomegranate seeds, which acted as a contract binding the goddess to the Underworld for four months every year. For the rest of the year Persephone was allowed to return to her mother’s side.

This cycle for the year gives rise to the seasons of the year. During the eight months that Persephone is with Demeter is the growing season when the earth flourishes. During the other four months it is winter and so nothing grows.

The story of Persephone doesn’t just end with her release from the Underworld, and she does interact with the stories of other gods and Greek heroes. As Goddess of the Underworld, Persephone is mentioned in the Odyssey, where Odysseus refers to her as the Iron Queen. As Queen of Hades it was also she who let Orpheus retrieve his wife from the Underworld, although through his mistake Eurydice was lost forever.

Persephone also crosses the path of the heroes Theseus and Heracles. Theseus descended into the Underworld, with his friend Pirithous, who desired to marry Persephone. Hades though caught them and bound them into a magical chair. Whilst Heracles managed to release Theseus, Pirithous was confined for all eternity.

Persephone could also be a jealous wife, and when Hades went after Minthe, a nymph, Persephone turned the nymph into a plant. Persephone is also intertwined with her mother, Demeter, and the two are often interchangeable, being referred to together as the “Demeters”, although the symbol of Persephone, the wheat sheaf, is often the distinguishable factor.

There are differing accounts of how many children Persephone was to have had. Most sources agree that Zagreus was her son, a previous incarnation of Dionysus, although the father is named as Zeus, Heracles or Hades. Hades is also some times named as the father of Melinoe, goddess of ghosts, and Macaria. Additionally Persephone is often associated with having relationships with Adonis and Hermes.

It is easy enough to overlook the importance of the Greek goddess Persephone, the fact is that compared to some of the other Greek deities she plays only minor roles in a few stories. The impact on the seasons though is an essential part of the lives of those who worshipped the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus. The importance of Persephone can be measured by the fact that some sources place Demeter and Persephone side by side as members of the group of Twelve Olympian gods.