Persephone Queen of the Underworld (Mini)

Persephone is the goddess of the underworld in Greek mythology. She is also considered the goddess of agriculture, seasons, flowers, fruits, herbs and fertility. In Roman mythology, she is called Proserpina.

Daughter of Zeus, the lord of gods and men, and Demeter, goddess of harvest and fertility, Persephone was born and raised on Mount Olympus.

As she was very beautiful, Persephone caught the attention of many gods. A virgin and protected by her mother, she was kidnapped by her uncle and underworld god Hades, while picking daffodils.

From that moment on, food and fields were affected by the sadness of Demeter, the goddess responsible for agriculture. Afraid of the consequences this could entail, the gods soon intervened to find their daughter.

When they revealed where Persephone was, Demeter asked Zeus for help. However, Hades did not allow Persephone to return. The god of the underworld tricked the goddess and made her eat the fruit that would seal the marriage: the pomegranate. And, as a consequence of this act, she would stay with him for a third of the year.

Thus, during the autumn, spring and summer months she would return to Earth and be at her mother's side. In the winter months, in turn, she would stay in the underworld, next to Hades.

This myth was widely used to explain the changes in the seasons. So when Persephone was at her mother's side, the fields bloomed. On the other hand, in winter, the soil was infertile and the lack of food affected the population. This reflected his mother's sadness when she was not by his side.