Persephone pur SEF oh ne

The Wife of Hades
Persephone in The Iliad (reference)
Persephone in The Odyssey (reference)
How to Cite this Page

The Wife of Hades

The beautiful daughter of Demeter and Zeus, Persephone is the focus of the story resulting in the division of the seasons, giving us the sweetness of Spring and the bitterness of Winter. Hades did not woo the beautiful Persephone, he abducted her and took her to his underground kingdom. After much protest, Persephone came to love the cold blooded king of the underworld but her mother, Demeter, was consumed with rage and sorrow. She demonstrated her anger by punishing the earth’s inhabitants with bitter cold and blustering winds. Unless Persephone was returned to her mother’s side, the earth would perish.

Hermes was sent to the house of Hades by Zeus to reason with Hades. He entered the kingdom of Hades and negotiated a compromise between the (usually cold and selfish) Hades and the (usually loving and caring) Demeter. Before Persephone could leave the underworld, Hades gave her a pomegranate seed to eat. By doing this he bound her to himself and his kingdom. When Demeter found out about the trickery she was angry but she was also resigned that there was nothing she could do... her loving daughter was bound to the Lord of the Dead. With no alternative, it was agreed that Persephone would to spend part of the year with her husband, Hades, and part of the year in the sunlight with her mother, Demeter.

When Persephone is with Hades the earth is wracked by the sorrow of her mother. But, when Persephone returns from the underworld to walk the earth again, Demeter pours forth the blessings of Spring to welcome her beloved daughter home.

She is often confused with the Roman goddess, Proserpina.

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Persephone in The Iliad (listed by book and line)

09.457 ...When Phoinix’s (Phoenix) father learned that his son had seduced his mistress, he called down curses on his son and named the Furies, Zeus of the Underworld, i.e. Hades, and Persephone
09.569 ...Phoinix (Phoenix) tells Akhilleus (Achilles) about the stubbornness of Meleagros (Meleager) and how Meleagros’ mother had prayed to Hades and Persephone for the death of her own son

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Persephone in The Odyssey (listed by book and line)

10.491 ...Kirke (Circe) tells Odysseus that he must go to the house of Hades and Persephone and seek out the ghost of the dead prophet, Teiresias
10.494 ...Persephone had granted intelligence, even after death, only to the prophet Teiresias
10.509 ...When giving Odysseus instructions on how to find the entrance to the Underworld, Kirke (Circe) told him to look for the Groves of Persephone with willows and poplars growing near the shore of Okeanos (Oceanus)
10.534 ...Kirke (Circe) tells Odysseus that when he reaches the abode of Hades and Persephone he must not let the dead drink the sacrificial blood until he has questioned them
10.564 ...Odysseus tells his men that they must go to the house of Hades and Persephone
11.047 ...After making an animal sacrifice at the entrance to the Underworld, Odysseus prays to Hades and Persephone
11.213 ...While at the entrance to the Underworld, Odysseus asks the ghost of his mother, Antikleia (Anticleia), if proud Persephone has created her as an illusion to increase his sorrow
11.217 ...While at the entrance to the Underworld, the ghost of Odysseus’ mother, Antikleia (Anticleia), explains that he cannot hold her in his arms because all who die become insubstantial and that Persephone is not to blame for her condition
11.226 ...While at the entrance to the Underworld, Odysseus encountered the ghosts of many dead women sent to him by proud Persephone
11.385 ...While at the entrance to the Underworld, Odysseus saw the ghosts of the women depart, scattered by Persephone
11.634 ...Odysseus feels genuine fear before he finally leaves the Underworld; he fears that Persephone will send the head of the Gorgon from the house of Hades to attack him

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How to Cite this Page

Cut and paste the following text for use in a paper or electronic document report.

Stewart, Michael. "Persephone", Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant. http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/bios/persephone.html (November 15, 2005)

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