The Greek goddess Persephone represents both the youthful, innocent, and joyous maiden aspect of a woman as well as the more womanly self who, innocence lost and family attachments loosened, can begin to consciously decide for herself.
In Greek mythology, Persephone, goddess of the soul, is the possessor of its dark and frightening wisdom. But the goddess Persephone is also the harbinger of spring . . . and a reminder of all the growth and hope that it brings. Persephone, was known in her childhood by the name Kore (or Cora, meaning young maiden), was the only child of Demeter (goddess of the bountiful harvest) and Zeus, the mighty king of the Olympians. Persephone was born when Demeter was Zeus' wife, long before his marriage to the goddess
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Nonetheless, her father, Zeus, said he could take her as his bride, which was not supposed to be taken literally. Young goddess Persephone grew to love hades but missed her mother and her life on earth. Her mother, Demeter, searched for her and stopped food from being able to grow (because she was the goddess of harvest) until her daughter returned. One myth states that Zeus and Hades agreed that Persephone would stay one-third of the year with Hades, one-third of the year serving as a handmaiden to Zeus and one-third with her mother …show more content…
Greek mythology tells us that the goddess Demeter would grieve when Persephone was in the underworld, bringing on the cold, unfruitful winters. But a few months later Persephone, the goddess associated with awakening, would return to bring spring and its green growth in her wake . . . thus were the seasons established. Persephone did not slack off when she was in the underworld. Instead of grieving, she uses her time in the best ways possible. The Greek goddess Persephone helped Heracles (Hercules), loaning him Cerberus, the savage three-headed dog that guarded the entrance of the Underworld so that he could complete the Twelve Labors he'd been assigned to make as a punishment for the death of his