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What Role Does Persephone Play In Greek Mythology

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Mythology is filled with timeless stories that teach many life lessons. This is especially true of the stories of the ancient Greeks. The Greeks were the first of the ancient people to have gods in their image. (Hamilton 5) Meaning that their gods were not animals or creatures, but men. This is why Persephone is described as a beautiful maiden. ("Persephone") Although Persephone is best know for being the goddess of spring and Queen of the Underworld, she is also known for showing women's role in society and nature's control on life.

Persephone is one of the very underrated figures in Greek mythology. Her childhood is very undocumented with very little information. Her father was Zeus, king of the gods; her mother was his sister Demeter, goddess …show more content…

Most stories involving Persephone show us how she was always regarded as a prize and not a person. In the same way that Hades regards Persephone, Zeus regards her mother, Demeter. When Hades decided that he wanted to marry Persephone, Demeter was never asked for approval or permission.Zeus knew that Demeter would not approve of Hades, but gave his permission anyways. He even assisted in the kidnapping of his daughter. ("Persephone") Persephone's opinion on Hades and let living in the Underworld is never mentioned. Hades disregards Persephone in the same way Zues does Demeter. When Persephone was taken to the Underworld, where she would live was decided completely by her father. ("Persephone") In the story of Pirithous, Pirithous decided that he wanted to steal Persephone as his wife. (Hamilton 218) Persephone is regarded as a prize once again. Hades knew of Pirithous and Theseus' intentions when they entered the Underworld and amused himself in their punishment. He caught Pirithous and Theseus and forced them to sit in the Chair of Forgetfulness forever. (Hamilton 218) Hades eventually let Theseus be rescued by his cousin, Hercules, but held Pirithous forever since it was he who wanted to steal his wife. (Hamilton 219) Though Hades did not respect his wife as a person, he protected her as a husband

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Demeter provided the sirens with wings with the intention of protecting her daughter. However, Persephone was abducted by Hades and Demeter cursed the Sirens as a result, sentenced to an eternity of singing, eternally calling for Persephone’s return.

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The Greeks had many underground ceremonies for Demeter to ensure a decent harvest. She was the foundation for the Eleusinian Mysteries, the most widespread rituals of Ancient Greece. The Eleusinian Mysteries, was explained in Homer’s book called, “Hymn to Demeter”. The royal family of Eleusis helped Demeter to find her daughter, Persephone. Then, Demeter,

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However, it was at this moment that Zeus noticed whom Hades had become smitten with: the daughter of Demeter and Zeus himself,

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The myth is the story of Perseus, the son of Zeus and Danae. As a baby he and his mother were forced into a coffin by his grandfather, Acrisius, and were sent out into sea to perish. They didn 't drown, however, they floated to land until they were found by a king, Polydectes. The king fell in love with Perseus ' mother and wanted to wed her, her refused so she could spend time caring for her son. After Perseus had grown into a young man Polydectes sent him on a mission to kill Medusa in a hope it would bring Perseus ' death, the king thought that with her son gone the woman she loved would marry him.

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Demeter availing farmers in where point to rocket and draw the hand a well-kenned is dealt fertile. Hades glommed Persephone afore Demeter apperceived her daughter absence. the confine of pleasure and suits the solitude. Demeter was furious. This dramatic lost became the burn up the road of the seasons, which met with today as blew the

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They have some similarities that can be seen after reading both of their stories. In the story of Demeter, her daughter Persephone is kidnapped and forced into marriage by means of her father. This causes Demeter to freak

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Perseus shows his proud opinion of himself when he tells Andromeda: “There will be time enough for weeping, by and by-but brief indeed the time in which bold actions may succeed” (Ovid 952-954). Upon first glance, Perseus appears to be bold and appears to be trying to rescue Andromeda for moral reasons; however, when taking in to account Perseus’ intentions, it becomes clear that he uses her as a means to end. Specifically, Perseus cares less about Andromeda on her own, and more about what he can use her to get. Perseus shows his disregard for Andromeda by bypassing her opinion and going directly to Andromeda’s parents to ask for marriage. Perseus says to Cepheus and Cassiopeia: “the deal is she's mine if I can save her” (Ovid 964).

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Marriage was an imposition on them just as it is to Persephone, most commonly imposed at the turning point in their adulthood. Although forced, it was still seen as a valid type of matrimony. In Hyperionides response to Demeter, he acknowledges that it is Zeus who allowed Persephone to be taken saying, “Zeus, who gave her to Hades, his own brother, to become his buxom bride”. Zeus is referred to as the father of Persephone; thus his ‘giving away’ of his daughter is seen as approval of the marriage. Fathers sold their daughters into marriage for money or to keep profit in the family name.

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