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Help[Opinions] You're thinking of Persephone's mother, probably
in reply to a message by Bear
She was Demeter, Goddess of the Grain and creator of the seasons.
You see, once upon a time young Persephone was kidnapped by her uncle Hades, who had fallen in love with her. Her mother didn't know of this until she went to fetch her daughter and couldn't find her. Demeter became despondent over her daughter's disappearance, for she was all she really had (despite the fact that the girl had been created out of Demeter's rape by her brother Zeus). She cried and tore her clothes, and then set out to find her daughter at whatever cost.
As she searched, she neglected her duties as Goddess of the Grain. Crops wilted and died, the earth grew cold, and snow began to fall. This continued for many months, until Zeus couldn't take the mortals' cries for relief any longer. He sent his son Hermes to Hades's realm in Tartarus, demanding that he bring Persephone back to her mother.
But the crafty Hades had tricked Persephone into eating some pomegranate seeds (some say four, some say six), for he knew that no one could ever leave Tartarus once they had sampled some of the food of the dead. Hermes, thinking quickly, suggested that Hades could have Persephone for four/six months of the year, while Demeter could have Persephone for the rest of the year. Knowing that Zeus, Demeter, and Persephone (who missed her mother terribly) would keep nagging him for eternity if he didn't comply, Hades agreed to this arrangement.
So Persephone returned to her mother, for a time at least. We know when she's with Demeter because it's spring and summer. We also know when Persephone leaves to join her husband, for then the seasons change to autumn and winter, a reflection of Demeter's sadness over being without her beloved daughter during that time.
Persephone started out as an innocent girl, true. But she grew up to be the fearsome, cold consort of Hades, which her name's meaning implies. As an adult, she wasn't a cruel person, but at the same time she wasn't very pleasant character to be around. The Greeks, despite this, always had great respect for her.
Miranda
"Multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign of diseased mind" -- Terry Pratchett
Proud adopter of 15 punctuation marks. Check my profile for their names.
You see, once upon a time young Persephone was kidnapped by her uncle Hades, who had fallen in love with her. Her mother didn't know of this until she went to fetch her daughter and couldn't find her. Demeter became despondent over her daughter's disappearance, for she was all she really had (despite the fact that the girl had been created out of Demeter's rape by her brother Zeus). She cried and tore her clothes, and then set out to find her daughter at whatever cost.
As she searched, she neglected her duties as Goddess of the Grain. Crops wilted and died, the earth grew cold, and snow began to fall. This continued for many months, until Zeus couldn't take the mortals' cries for relief any longer. He sent his son Hermes to Hades's realm in Tartarus, demanding that he bring Persephone back to her mother.
But the crafty Hades had tricked Persephone into eating some pomegranate seeds (some say four, some say six), for he knew that no one could ever leave Tartarus once they had sampled some of the food of the dead. Hermes, thinking quickly, suggested that Hades could have Persephone for four/six months of the year, while Demeter could have Persephone for the rest of the year. Knowing that Zeus, Demeter, and Persephone (who missed her mother terribly) would keep nagging him for eternity if he didn't comply, Hades agreed to this arrangement.
So Persephone returned to her mother, for a time at least. We know when she's with Demeter because it's spring and summer. We also know when Persephone leaves to join her husband, for then the seasons change to autumn and winter, a reflection of Demeter's sadness over being without her beloved daughter during that time.
Persephone started out as an innocent girl, true. But she grew up to be the fearsome, cold consort of Hades, which her name's meaning implies. As an adult, she wasn't a cruel person, but at the same time she wasn't very pleasant character to be around. The Greeks, despite this, always had great respect for her.
Miranda
"Multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign of diseased mind" -- Terry Pratchett
Proud adopter of 15 punctuation marks. Check my profile for their names.
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