My Favourite Seasonal Story...
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| Image courtesy of Buckadoe Photography |
In addition to the many versions surrounding our own celebrations of Ostara, I am reminded of my favourite childhood story of how the seasons came to be.
I am of course, talking about the love story that surrounds Demeter (The doting mother) Persephone (the beautiful and loving daughter) and Hades (the original Bad Boy!)
In mythology, Zeus, King of all the Gods, had three sisters: Hera, Queen of the Gods, was also his wife and the Goddess of Marriage; Hestia was the Goddess of Home and Hearth and Demeter was Goddess of the Harvest, responsible for the crops and for feeding the people.
Demeter was loved by all humans for her gift of soil and gentle, mild weather to grow their crops. They worshipped her for her caring and kindness.
Demeter had only one child, a daughter called Persephone and just like her mother, she was a kind caring, happy natured young lady. She had an amazing smile and personality, where ever she went, she left a sense of light and happiness in her wake. As a result, she was loved by everyone, but by none more so than her mother.
Demeter liked nothing more than to spend as much time in the company of her delightful daughter, as she could, watching her develop into a radiant young woman who effortlessly enchanted those around her.
Even Hades, mighty ruler and God of the Underworld, was not immune to Persephone's gifts. Having spotted her on one of his many journeys from his underworld domain, to that of above, Hades was instantly enraptured by the shear beauty, elegance and charm of Persephone, that he decide that he simply must have her as his wife.
Knowing the strength of Demeter's love for her daughter, and vice-versa. Hades also knew the Demeter would never agree to such a union, or to her beautiful daughter living with him in the gloomy realm of the dead. But his mind was set, and he determined to make Persephone his wife.
Whilst both Demeter and Persephone were unaware of his intentions, Hades chose to visit his brother, Zeus, to discuss the situation. Surprisingly, Zeus agreed to the match and also to Hades’ plan of abducting the fair the fair Persephone, and taking her to his realm.
Eager to possess her, Hades orchestrated her abduction perfectly.
Whilst with Artemis and Athena in
the meadows, Persephone wandered freely gathering flowers for her beloved Mother, Demeter. As she did so, the
most exquisite perfume caught her attention. So exquisite was the scent, that she determined to find the bloom responsible, so that she could take it home to her mother. In following this heady aroma, Persephone wandered quite a distance from her friends until she spotted the bloom responsible, a narcissus. Unable to restrain herself, Persephone bent down to better enjoy the intoxicating aroma.Disturbed by the sound of agitated birds, Persephone looked up to notice the sky as it darkened to deepest black. A great chasm opened in the ground before her and a loud, deafening "Boom" heralded the arrival of Hades in his chariot. Persephone, frozen with shock and awe, was scooped up by Hades, and the flowers, freshly picked for her Mother, slid from her hands as he turned his chariot around and headed back into the chasm from which he had come.
Too late, Persephone found her voice and screamed for her Mother to help her, as she was carried deeper into the Underworld.
Having so far lead a dark and lonely life, Hades had found himself both enchanted and enlivened by the beauty of Persephone. Believing himself to finally be "In Love" he used all his powers of persuasion to get Persephone to stay and be his wife and rule the Underworld with him.
But this was not the world in which this beautiful, bright young woman wanted to live.
At first, Persephone wept until she had no more tears to weep and steadfastly refused all offers of food. She was well aware that once a person had freely eaten of the food in the Underworld, they could never return to the world above.
Each day, Hades would visit the splendid chamber he had prepared for Persephone, bringing dainty morsels to tempt her to eat and declare his love. Each day, she turned away, refusing to eat and listen to his honeyed words.
As time passed, she began to look around her, to admire the tasteful but luxuriousness of her surroundings. The next time entered her room, she looked at Hades, really looked. What she saw was a man. A man with a strong, brooding face and hypnotic eyes, filled with both sadness and affection, with just a hint of cunning. This time, as he stretched out his hand, Persephone tentatively put hers into it. Leading her out of the room, he said, “Come, my love, let me show you my domain. See the world to which you bring such light and of which you can be Queen, if only you will marry me.”
Meanwhile, Demeter was beside herself with grief. Her daughter had not returned and no trace of her was found apart from a few wilting flowers. Demeter roamed the countryside, searching and seeking far and wide. At first, she was angry that anyone could have taken her beautiful daughter but soon her fury turned to sadness and despair and, as a consequence, the earth was sad along with her. The crops did not thrive, the land became barren and sorrow began to creep over the earth.
In her despair, Demeter lifted her arms towards the sky and demanded “Who will help me find my daughter?”
Helios, God of the Sun, took pity on the distraught Demeter and told her the truth, for he had seen clearly what had happened whilst on his daily journey across the sky and felt sorry for the grieving mother.
Upon hearing the whole story and that Zeus himself had agreed to her beloved daughters abduction, Demeter’s wrath knew no bounds. A savage anger flared in her heart. She strode to the foot of Olympus and called upon Zeus and all the gods to hear her oath.
She swore that never again would she set foot on the great Olympus, nor would she permit the ground to bear forth fruit of crops, until such time as she held her daughter in her arms again.
Zeus heard his sisters words and understood all too well, the ramifications they held. With no crops or fruit to harvest, the people on Earth would starve, they would look for someone to blame. As King of the Gods, they would blame him. Eventually, the people would become so disheartened with the Gods, no one would worship them. And that, he determined, would not do!
Zeus sent his messenger, Hermes, to the Underworld, with orders to return with Persephone.
But by this time, Persephone had allowed herself be led by Hades to explore his kingdom. Her inner sunshine lit up the once gloomy world. Her kind heart was moved by the plight of the souls first arriving in the underworld; they were lost and bewildered, in need of sympathetic help and guidance, which she could give.
Persephone’s kind heart was also moved by Hades himself, his sincerity and patience had won her over. She still missed her mother terribly, but she had begun to enjoy the company of this elegant, powerful and adoring god, and was intrigued by the idea of being Queen of the Underworld.
As Hermes arrived, in the distance he saw Persephone and Hades sitting together on a sumptuous couch. Hades held a pomegranate in his hand and as he watched, Persephone tasted of the fruit, allowing only six seeds to pass her lips, she swallowed.
Persephone was now committed to Hades and the Underworld. Hermes knew that he still had to deliver Zeus’ command.
Hades knew why Hermes was there and refused to let Persephone go, declaring triumphantly that as she had eaten the food of the Underworld, of her own free will, she was now destined to stay with him forever.
It is often thought that Hermes, renowned for his negotiating skills, was responsible for the deal that was eventually struck. However, I prefer to believe that Persephone herself, brokered the deal.
Desperate as she was to see her beloved Mother again, she was also reluctant to leave Hades and the souls of the Underworld that she had come to care for. Knowing, as she did, that Hades did indeed love her and respect her, she pleaded that she be allowed to return to her Mother and the world above. She promised that she would return to him.
Hades reluctantly agreed, but only on the understanding that she would share her time between Demeter and himself equally. This was famously decided based on the number of pomegranate seeds that Persephone had allowed herself to swallow. One month for each seed. As she had swallowed six seeds in total, then she would spend six months with her Mother and six in the realm of the Underground, with Hades.
From that moment on, every Spring Demeter makes sure flowers bloom, the crops grow and fruit is borne, In the meadows, on the mountains and from the shrubs and trees, all to welcome home her loving daughter Persephone.
And every Autumn Demeter cries, the leaves fall and the crops are at an end, as her daughter returns, willingly, as Queen of the Underworld to Hades, her husband.
Until the Spring, when the cycle starts again!
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