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Explore mythology and art with information about the classic stories of heroes and gods...from the myths of ancient Greece and Rome, to the legends of the Celts. Mythography presents resources and reference materials about mythology - including recommended books, and lexicons that explain Greek, Roman, and Celtic terms.
Gardner's Art Through the Ages
This book is the classic reference for the study of art. It features a history of artists and their works, as well as lucid and engaging descriptions of the styles and periods of art history. Highly recommended for both students and scholars.
Aphrodite in Art
Aphrodite in Myth
Art Themes
home | greek | gods | chthonians | Persephone
Persephone at a Glance
name | Persephone
role | goddess of the underworld; wife of Hades
symbols | pomegranate (in later art)
Persephone in Myth
Sources of Greek mythology usually claim that Persephone was the daughter of two Olympian gods, Zeus and Demeter. This is an interesting ancestry for a goddess who was destined to be the Queen of the Underworld, but in ancient myth, almost anything is possible. And although her parents were powerful and well known deities, Persephone remains somewhat elusive and shadowy, like the realm over which she co-rules. This may be due to the fact that she is overshadowed by her mother. In the Hymn to Demeter, we find the most important myth about Persephone, and yet the majority of the poem is dedicated to Demeter (as the title suggests).
Marriage of Persephone
Most of the Hymn is concerned with the details of Demeter's search for her lost daughter, because the poem is in many respects more about Demeter and her reactions to the loss of Persephone than about the abduction of Persephone itself. Be this as it may, the young goddess who is enamored of flowers and cavorting with her friends is transformed into the wife of the stern and imperious Hades in the Hymn. This is accomplished through one significant incident: once in the Underworld, Hades offers Persephone the seeds of the pomegranate, which she accepts. The act of ingesting pomegranate seeds symbolizes the consummation of their relationship, which is a beautiful poetic touch. Hereafter, Persephone, who was previously known as Kore ("the maiden") is regarded as the spouse of Hades, and she inhabits the Underworld with him for part of the year.
Persephone in Art
Gallery | for pictures and information about Persephone in art, visit the gallery!
Persephone at a Glance
name | Persephone
role | goddess of the underworld; wife of Hades
symbols | pomegranate (in later art)
Persephone in Myth
Sources of Greek mythology usually claim that Persephone was the daughter of two Olympian gods, Zeus and Demeter. This is an interesting ancestry for a goddess who was destined to be the Queen of the Underworld, but in ancient myth, almost anything is possible. And although her parents were powerful and well known deities, Persephone remains somewhat elusive and shadowy, like the realm over which she co-rules. This may be due to the fact that she is overshadowed by her mother. In the Hymn to Demeter, we find the most important myth about Persephone, and yet the majority of the poem is dedicated to Demeter (as the title suggests).
Marriage of Persephone
Most of the Hymn is concerned with the details of Demeter's search for her lost daughter, because the poem is in many respects more about Demeter and her reactions to the loss of Persephone than about the abduction of Persephone itself. Be this as it may, the young goddess who is enamored of flowers and cavorting with her friends is transformed into the wife of the stern and imperious Hades in the Hymn. This is accomplished through one significant incident: once in the Underworld, Hades offers Persephone the seeds of the pomegranate, which she accepts. The act of ingesting pomegranate seeds symbolizes the consummation of their relationship, which is a beautiful poetic touch. Hereafter, Persephone, who was previously known as Kore ("the maiden") is regarded as the spouse of Hades, and she inhabits the Underworld with him for part of the year.
Persephone in Art
Gallery | for pictures and information about Persephone in art, visit the gallery!
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