Greek goddess of Spring, the Underworld, flowers, and vegetation
Persephone was also titled Kore (the Maiden) as the goddess of spring’s bounty. The most popular myth including this goddess was of course the story of young Persephone playing with her nymph friends before being seized by Hades and brought to the Underworld. When Hades had seen the lovely Persephone, he immediatley desired her and was granted Permission by Zeus to take her. So cold Hades of the Underworld chased the young goddess in his chariot and had the ground crack open to swallow her as she screamed. It is in most versions, that Persephone fought against Hades’ advances but is tricked into eating the pomegranate seeds. After eating from the pomegranate, Persephone can only stay with her mother for two-thirds of the year, while she must spend one-third with Hades. She goes and laments to her mother after her rescue, with Hekate agreeing to stay and accompany her. During the absence of her beloved daughter each year, Demeter mourns, causing the life of the Earth to fade.
Persephone holds a role as the dread queen of the Underworld, which tradition had it forbidden to speak her name. This tradition comes from her conflation with the very old chthonic goddess Despoina (“[the] mistress”), whose real name could not be revealed to anyone except those initiated into her mysteries. As goddess of death, she was also called a daughter of Zeus and Styx, the river that formed the boundary between Earth and the underworld. In Homer’s epics, she appears as the formidable and venerable queen of the shades, who carries into effect the curses of men upon the souls of the dead. The story of Persephone having to marry Hades is thought to be written as inspired from the grief Ancient Greek mother’s faced when their daughters were taken away by their new husbands without warning.
In my personal experiences with this goddess, Persephone is withdrawn around those she does not know, but very friendly and often upbeat with those she is friends with. She is often quite gentle, just, and compassionate, although serious and stern when need be. Persephone manages to come across as both youthful and deeply wise. She enjoys helping those who are in need and being able to lend them advice, though also showing them how to be strong. She adores nature and spending time with her friends, causing her to feel like the gentleness of Spring itself. But this goddess also manages to be both merciful and wrathful, and is not one to be crossed. She can be rather stern and sometimes even cold when angered, but she is usually understanding. This lovely goddess also has a soft spot for the Dead, as she helps to guide and heal them.
In myth, the sirens who are the beautiful bird-women who sing sailors to their deaths were originally the friends of Persephone. There are multiple myths regarding what happened to the Sirens after Persephone was kidnapped by Hades, with one saying that Demeter gave them wings in order to search for her daughter and another saying that she cursed them because they didn’t stop the abduction.
In my workings with Persephone, she is not actually married to Hades, but was held by him against her will. It’s true that she was kidnapped by him, but this was moreso a very traumatic experience in which Hades held her captive for many ages. Eventually, Persephone finally escaped him and left to rule a large section of the Underworld on her own. It’s not something she enjoys talking about due to all that Hades did to her, so please be gentle with her regarding this story. Persephone lives within a beautiful palace that has black and purple colours. In appearance, Persephone is fair, elegant, has long black hair, and hazel eyes. She tends to wear purple dresses and is very lovely and compassionate. As for friends, Aphrodite and she are practically like sisters and the two of them were two of the most feared goddesses of Ancient Greece.
| Symbolism of Persephone |
| Personal Associations |
Enodius (At the cross-roads)
Anthæsphória (Of the flowers)
Karpophóra (Fruit-bearer)
Kædní (Noble and trustworthy)
Praxidíki (She who exacts retribution for injustice)
Wine, pomegranate juice, lemonade, fruits, grain, chocolates, pastries, tarts, flowers (especially purple flowers, lavender, tulips, lilies, and roses), butterfly wings, graveyard dirt (collected with permission from the spirits), bones, wheat, seeds, flower crowns, honeycombs, spirit communication tools, purple candles, poetry, prose, artwork, baked goods, silver jewelry, honey, cream, sugar, herbal teas, floral perfume, purple silk, imagery of animals she likes, amethyst, labradorite, angelite, selenite, garnet, and other light-coloured or red crystals.
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