Persephone and the origin of seasons

Demeter was the sister of Zeus, and was the goddess agriculture. She taught
human how to sow grain, and how to cultivate it; so the Greeks worshiped her as
the goddess of Agriculture. Demeter had a beautiful young daughter named
Persephone, whom she loved very much, and who helped her in caring for the grain
that human planted. When the seed was dropped into the ground, Persephone
watched over it, and guarded it.
One bright sunny morning in Mount Olympus, Demeter said goodbye to her
daughter Persephone. Ill be back for supper. she said. As goddess of agriculture,
she took care of all the plants in the world. The weather was always fine and there
were harvests all year long. Demeter had hidden Persephone from gods so that no
one would be able to marry her.
After her mother had gone, Persephone and her friends went to pick flowers. Trying
to find the best daisies, Persephone wandered away from her friends and was soon
on her own.
All of a sudden, Persephone heard a noise and looked up into the sky. She saw a
chariot pulled by four black horses, driven by Hades, the god of the underworld.
Hades had fallen in love with Persephone, but knew that Demeter would not allow
him to marry her daughter.
Before Persephone could scream, Hades dragged her into his chariot and raced
away. As they raced across the ground, a humungous cleft appeared on the ground.
Hades drove straight down through it and the ground closed behind them. Hades
and Persephone disappeared into the underworld.
When Demeter went home that evening, she called out to Persephone.
"Pershoponie I am home" she said. When there was no reply, Demeter went around
the house calling Persephones name. Then she realized that the house was empty.
She decided to wait, thinking that Persephone was outside and has not yet returned.
She waited until it was midnight, when she began to grow worried. For nine days
and nine nights, Demeter searched and searched for her missing daughter, not
even stopping to rest or eat.
Dressed in black, Demeter when all over the country, searching for Persephone as a
old woman. Since she no longer took care of the crops, nothing grew anymore. The
corn rotted in the fields no fruit ripened on the trees and the grass turn brown. The
was nothing for cows, sheep and goats to eat and the people of the world were near
to starving.
One day, Zeus called a meeting for all the gods and goddesses. This is serious.
Zeus. If we dont persuade Demeter to look after the crops of the world, people will
die. Then Zeus called Hermes, to go to the underworld and ask Hades to let

Persephone leave the underworld. Hermes flew off at once. Only gods and
goddesses could go into the underworld, the home of the dead people and come out
again.
I will never let Persephone go. growled Hades. I love her and want to marry her.
Please be reasonable Hades. Hermes begged. You know that Persephone dosent
love you.
Fine. roared Hades angrily. I will let her go if she did not eat anything here. You
know the rules. If she did then she must stay here forever. Thats easy, lets just
ask her. said Hermes.
I did not eat anything! Persephone cried. I havent even touched a single crumb
of food!
A misty ghost of a gardener was listening. Oh yes you did he said. I saw you pick
a pomegranate and eat it.
No, cried Persephone. I didnt eat the whole thing, I was just so thirsty I just
swallowed four seeds. Thats enough! roared Hades.
Please Hades, begged Hermes. Let her go, a few seeds isnt that much. Fine
then! shouted Hades. Persephone may be with Demeter for half of the year while
she stays with me in the underworld.
Hermes held Persephones hand and took her away from the underworld and back
to Demeter. Demeter was so happy, that she turned back into herself and wore
bright and sunny clothes again. She also made sure that everything in the world
grew again. Oh my darling daughter. she had said when Persephone had arrived.
You have come back to me Yes, but I may only stay with you for half a year.
Persephone sobbed. Ill have to spend the rest in the underworld. Demeter was
sad but knew that she had to accept this.
All through the summer Demeter was happy and busy, but when Persephone had to
go back to the underworld she was sad and it became autumn. Then the weather
would turn cold and it will be winter. But when Persephone returned Demeter was
happy and it would be spring again.