Persephone's Role In Greek Mythology

Greek mythology is how the Greeks explained ancient Greece. Gods were important to ancient Greece because they believed if there were gods, they must have created or controlled their title. Greek life revolves around how gods wanted to be respected and pleased by humans. One of these gods is Persephone, also known as Proserpina in Roman mythology. Persephone, goddess of spring and the underworld, had powers of vegetation and plant life from her mother Demeter. Persephone lived on Mount Olympus as a minor goddess with her mother who was an Olympian. Hades, the god of the underworld, kidnapped Persephone and eventually made her Queen of the underworld. Although Persephone is a very important goddess, there are other important gods that run …show more content…
She is the patron of the underworld, Hades. The most sacred and admired ritual of all ancient Greece, known as the Festival at Eleusis, is held in honor of Demeter and Persephone. Many symbols are carried out through Persephone. She has the symbols of spring, wreaths of flowers worn on heads, reeds, waterfalls, rivers, springs, and pomegranate seeds. Reeds are tall, grass-like plants most likely to be grown in swamps. The most important symbol is the torch that appears on Greek funerary monuments. When she holds her torch upwards it represents life, specifically plant and animal life. When the torch is held downward it represents death, specifically plants not being watched over while Persephone is down in the underworld. It also represents the power of flame with Hades in the underworld.Persephone has a great …show more content…
The myth The Reasons for Seasons talks about the reason seasons were made in ancient Greece. One day, Hades was on a chariot ride with his Cerberus, a three-headed dog. Hades Cerberus ran off and was sniffing around flowers with all three of his heads. The Cerberus finally found a girl and her name was Persephone. When Hades found his Cerberus he saw him playing with Persephone. Hades fell in love with her bright personality. Before anyone noticed Hades kidnapped Persephone and locked her up in a beautifully decorated room in the Hall of Hades. Hades gave Persephone all kinds of delicious food, but Persephone refused to eat because she heard if you eat anything in Hades you’ll never get to leave. Persephone started to get upset and began crying. She wasn’t the only one upset. Her mother, Demeter missed her terribly. Demeter wanted to find her daughter. Nobody knew except Zeus because someone told him where Persephone was. Zeus had sent Hermes, the messenger god of Mount Olympus, to make a deal with Hades. They made a deal that if Hades could get married to Persephone, he would let Persephone stay on Mount Olympus with Demeter for a certain amount of time. She stayed in Hades for three months during the season of winter and with Demeter on Mount Olympus for six months during the time of sunshine and harvest. Her mother Demeter wanted to be with her for those six months so that they