Persephone and the Pomegranate Seeds

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The Ancient Greeks believed that the chief god- Zeus, had a sister called Demeter, who was in charge of the harvest. They believed that if she was unhappy, then the crops would fail and the people would die. This is a Greek myth that explains why there is spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Demeter had a daughter, whom she loved very much. Her name was Persephone and she made her mother very happy, and when she was happy the mortals crops grew well, trees blossomed and the grass was carpeted with bright flowers. Over time, Persephone grew up into a tall, beautiful goddess.

One day, the god of the Underworld- Hades was out looking at the living world in his chariot with Cerberus, the three headed dog who guarded the Underworld. Suddenly, he saw Persephone, walking gracefully through the flowers. He fell head over heels in love with her, so much that he snatched her up and took her away to his cold, dark, miserable abode under the ground. When Demeter couldn't find her beloved daughter, she ran, panicked and worried to the gates of Olympus. Zeus saw his distressed sister and sent the messenger god Hermes down to the Underworld, flying as fast as he could in his winged sandals.

Meanwhile, Hades was sitting with Persephone offering her delicious food because he knew that if she ate something of his, then she would have to live with him forever. Finally after a week of hunger, Persephone ate six of twelve pomegranate seeds. At that moment, Hermes and Demeter sped into the hall. Eventually, Hermes arranged a deal that because Persephone had eaten six of twelve seeds, she must wed Hades and live with him for six months in the Underworld. But for the other six months, she was free to live with her mother in the living world.

That is how the Ancient Greeks explained the thriving of crops in spring and summer, and the failing of crops and indeed nature in autumn and winter.
     

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