Demeter and Persephone

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Demeter and Persephone

• When Hades abducts her daughter, Demeter (the
  goddess of agriculture) makes the earth turn cold
  and barren, until Persephone returns from the
  underworld each spring.

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DEMETER

• In Greek mythology, the goddess of
  agriculture, of harvest, and of grain a type of
  the earth goddess and the mother goddess. Her
  roman cognate is CERES, the roman goddess of
  grain, from whose name we derive the word
  cereal.

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Persephone

• The daughter of Zeus and Demeter the Maiden
  of Spring. Her Roman cognate is Proserpina.

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HADES

• The Greek god of the underworld, who rules
  over the abode of the dead. His Roman cognate is
  PLUTO, also known as DIS

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Myths try to explain the world

• Example Why do we have the seasons?
• According to Greek mythology, the goddess
  responsible for the earths bounty was Demeter.
  Her sweet daughter Persephone gladdened Demeters
  heart, and Demeters love and happiness kept the
  earth in bloom.

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• For an entire year Demeter refused to allow
  the earth to bloom when Persephone was stolen
  from her. All over the world people starved.

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• Concerned that the mortals would all die out,
  leaving no one to worship them, the other gods
  begged Zeus to talk to Demeter and recall her to
  her duties.

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Zeus Pity

• Zeus took pity on the mother and daughter. Since
  Persephone had only eaten one seed, and had done
  so unwillingly , he decreed that she would not
  have to stay in the underworld for an entire
  year.

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• Instead , she would stay there for only half
  of each year, and then in the other half of the
  year she would be allowed to return to her
  mother.

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• Each year, during the months when Persephone
  returns to her, Demeter makes the earth green and
  blesses the harvest.

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• But during the months when Persephone has to
  stay in the underworld, Demeter mourns, and in
  her grief and loneliness she makes the earth turn
  barren and cold.

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• Thus the seasons are explained.