Persephone, also known as Kore (the girl), is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, goddess of the harvest and agriculture. Zeus, god of thunder, lightning and wind, is the supreme God in Greek mythology who reigns from Mount Olympus. He is a shape shifter when it comes to seducing women: for  Hera he changes himself into a little bird, with Danaë he impregnates her in the shape of a golden rain. The circumstances under which Persephone is conceived are unknown.

 

Persephone’s early years are carefree: she likes playing around with the Oceanids or water nymphs, daughters of the Ocean god Oceanus. Many of his 3000 daughters were given names, but the name of the nymph that witnessed  Persephone’s abduction is never mentioned, a leitmotiv Vera used for the character Frouli. The fact that Frouli resembles anything but a nymph also enlarged Frouli’ s dramatic potential.

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One day, Persephone sees a beautiful daffodil. As she is trying to pick it, the earth splits open and Hades, god of the dead grabs Persephone and takes her to the underworld. Zeus, who just closed a deal with his brother Hades that he could have his daughter, ignores Persephone’s screaming. Demeter, by contrast, changes herself into a bird and flies over land and sea to look for her daughter. Neither man, nor god wants to tell the truth but when Helios, god of the sun, brings out the news that Zeus has given her daughter to Hades, Demeter bursts into a fit of rage. She turns against Olympus, neglects her body and the earth  by forcing every  seed not to sprout. As  a result humanity  is starving  and the popularity of the Olympian gods declines. Zeus, slightly alarmed, sends several Gods to Demeter, to try to persuade her to come to Olympus to talk, but Demeter tells them she will never let the crops grow again or return to Olympus unless she sees her daughter. Zeus sends his messenger Hermes to Hades in the underworld, with the request to give Persephone back to her mother. 

 

Hades seems very forthcoming. He puts four pomegranate seeds ‘as sweets for the road’ in Persephone’s mouth, and off she goes. When Persephone and her mother are united,  Demeter instantly asks if she’s eaten anything: once you’ve eaten in the underworld, you must return there. Persephone mentions the pomegranate seeds. Since there were four, Demeter tells her daughter she has to live for four months, during autumn and winter, in the underworld. Her yearly awakening or rebirth on earth will arouse spring. In Greek mythology this has resulted in the cyclic pattern of the seasons.

 

On the surface the history of Persephone is merely a power struggle between Zeus, Hades and Demeter. Persephone’s receptiveness should not be seen though as an act of weakness. Once she’s reconciled with her fate to descend into the underworld and embrace her darkest fears, Persephone becomes a guide, not only for the dead but also for those who are abducted by their fears.

 

Rebirth, a state of mind we all long for, mostly comes after a period of self reflection.

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To start with Persephone's Party of Spring, please click here.