Hades is the god of the dead and the ruler of the underworld. While he rules the underworld, his brothers Zeus and Poseidon rule the sky and sea. He is mainly portrayed as holding a bident, wearing a helm, and next to the three-headed guardian dog of the underworld.

Persephone (also known as Kore, which means maiden) is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She was typically described as robed and holding a sheaf of grain. Both she and her mother are vegetation goddesses.

One day, as Persephone wandered through a field of flowers, Hades seized the opportunity and emerged from the depths of the underworld. In a swift and bold move, he abducted Persephone, spiriting her away to his dark domain. Demeter, devastated by the sudden disappearance of her daughter, neglects the earth and causes nothing to grow.

Zeus commands Persephone to return; Hades accepts it but tricks Persephone into eating pomegranate seeds. After she tasted underworld food, Persephone had to spend part of the year with Hades in the underworld and the rest with her mother above ground. This division of time mirrors the changing seasons, where Persephone’s descent into the underworld coincides with winter, and her return heralds the arrival of spring. Despite being initially taken against her will, Persephone adapts to her circumstances and eventually assumes a decisive role as the underworld queen.

Some more facts:

• The name ‘Persephone’ was given to her by Hades after her abduction.
• Persephone also had a lover called Adonis. Aphrodite found him while he was a baby and took him to the underworld to be cared for by Persephone. After he gets older, Aphrodite and Persephone fall in love with him. Later, he had to spend one-third of the year with Persephone and chose to stay with Aphrodite for the rest of the year.
• A Nadian nymph, Minthe was one of the lovers of Hades. When Persephone found out about her, she trampled her and turned her into a mint plant.

Written by Begüm Edited by İklim