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Persephone is with Demeter is the growing season when the earth flourishes. During the other four months it is winter and so nothing grows.

The story of Persephone doesn't just end with her release from the Underworld, and she does interact with the stories of other gods and Greek heroes. As Goddess of the Underworld, Persephone is mentioned in the Odyssey, where Odysseus refers to her as the Iron Queen. As Queen of Hades it was also she who let Orpheus retrieve his wife from the Underworld, although through his mistake Eurydice was lost forever.

Persephone also crosses the path of the heroes Theseus and Heracles. Theseus descended into the Underworld, with his friend Pirithous, who desired to marry Persephone. Hades though caught them and bound them into a magical chair. Whilst Heracles managed to release Theseus, Pirithous was confined for all eternity.

Persephone could also be a jealous wife, and when Hades went after Minthe, a nymph, Persephone turned the nymph into a plant. Persephone is also intertwined with her mother, Demeter, and the two are often interchangeable, being referred to together as the "Demeters", although the symbol of Persephone, the wheat sheaf, is often the distinguishable factor.

There are differing accounts of how many children Persephone was to have had. Most sources agree that Zagreus was her son, a previous incarnation of Dionysus, although the father is named as Zeus, Heracles or Hades. Hades is also some times named as the father of Melinoe, goddess of ghosts, and Macaria. Additionally Persephone is often associated with having relationships with Adonis and Hermes.

It is easy enough to overlook the importance of the Greek goddess Persephone, the fact is that compared to some of the other Greek deities she plays only minor roles in a few stories. The impact on the seasons though is an essential part of the lives of those who worshipped the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus. The importance of Persephone can be measured by the fact that some sources place Demeter and Persephone side by side as members of the group of Twelve Olympian gods.

Learn more about this author, Tim Harry.
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