Download “The Myth of Persephone: The Coming of Spring”

“The Myth of Persephone: The Coming of Spring”
Zeus knew that something must be done. Hades was powerful, and he was Zeus's brother.
But Zeus's power was greatest of all. Whatever Zeus commanded must be done.
Zeus sent his messenger, Hermes, to the Underworld. “Send Persephone back to Mt.
Olympus,” was Zeus's command.
Hades knew he must obey. But he had grown to love Persephone deeply in the months she
had been with him. He had given her beautiful clothing and a crown of dark jewels. She sat
on the throne beside him, a pale, unhappy queen.
Persephone was so sad that she had refused to eat while she was in the Underworld. During
her stay in the Land of the Dead she had swallowed only four small pomegranate seeds.
“You must let Persephone return home,” Hermes said. “It is Zeus's order.”
But Hades knew he could keep his lovely queen. “She has eaten the seeds of the
pomegranate,” he said. “No one may leave once they have eaten the food of the dead!”
Persephone wept. She begged Hades to let her go. “Just let me visit my mother,” she cried.
“I promise, I will return to you.”
And so, Hades let Persephone leave. He let Hermes take her up, out of the Underworld,
back to Demeter. But he made her swear to return.
“Because you ate four pomegranate seeds,” Hades said, “you will return to me four
months of every year.”
Then he turned away, for he could not bear to watch her go.
Demeter met Persephone in an empty field. As soon as she saw her daughter, she threw off
her black cloak. She stood tall and golden in the bright sunlight. At that instant, blades of
green grass sprang up in the field. Leaves and blossoms appeared on the trees. The earth was
green and fruitful again.
And so it was. Each year Persephone went back to live with Hades as she had promised.
And for four long months every year, the earth felt Demeter's sorrow. It became bare and
cold and nothing grew. It was winter. And each time Persephone returned to Demeter, the
earth rejoiced with flowers and fruit and growing things. Spring had come!