The myth of Persephone explains the changing of the seasons. Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, is kidnapped by Hades and taken to live in the underworld as his wife. Her mother Demeter's grief over her missing daughter causes plants to stop growing. Eventually, Zeus intervenes and allows Persephone to return to her mother, but because Persephone ate food in the underworld, she is bound to return there for part of each year, during which time Demeter grieves, causing winter.

1. The Myth of Persephone

2. Persephone’s father was Zeus, ruler of the gods, and her mother was Demeter, goddess of the harvest and plants.

3. Hades, god of the underworld had been watching Persephone for a while. He couldn’t help falling in love with her beauty and blithe.

4. One fine, sunny day, Persephone was in the forest enjoying the plants and flowers that her mother had provided. Suddenly, the ground opened. Hades grabbed Persephone and dragged her into the underworld to live with him.

5. Demeter heard her daughter scream and searched for her but could not find her. She became very sad. Her depression caused the leaves to turn brown and fall off of the trees.

6. Persephone was scared. She missed her mother. Although Hades offered her plenty of food she refused to eat. She knew that if she ate anything in the underworld she would not be allowed to leave.

7. A few weeks later Demeter became even more upset from missing her daughter. The air became very cold a and the ground turned hard and white.Demeter declared that she would not allow plants to grow until she had her daughter back.

8. Zeus finally acknowledged that he needed to do something. He sent messengers to try to convince Hades to allow Persephone to come back. He refused.

9. Zeus became annoyed and commanded Hades to release Persephone. She was very happy because she had missed her mother. To celebrate her release she ate the seeds of a pomegranate given to her by Hades.

10. Demeter became so happy to see her daughter that she allowed the plants to grow again.

11. Demeter’s happiness was only temporary. Because Persephone had eaten the seeds, she is required to return to the underworld for four months out of the year. For those four months Demeter does not allow anything to grow.

12. What do you think the story of Persephone is explaining?