Today I am going to tell you a story about why the seasons change, according to #GreekMythology
The story starts with #Hades, the God of the #Underworld, falling head over heals in love with #Persephone. Persephone was the daughter of #Demeter, the Goddess of #Agriculture, and she was a very beautiful young woman.
One day Hades saw her picking wild flowers in a field and he takes the opportunity to abduct her! He takes her back to the underworld to be his #queen.
Her mum, Demeter, is totally heartbroken over the loss of her daughter and in her sorrow starts to neglect her duties as the goddess of agriculture, causing the earth to wither and become barren.
Winter descended and life all around appeared to be dying. Zeus, the king of the gods and Persephone's Dad, decided that he'd had enough. He ordered Hades to return Persephone to her mother.
But it was too late! While in the underworld Persephone had eaten some pomegranate seeds which bound her to the realm of the dead.
As a compromise, it was decided that Persephone would spend part of the year in the underworld with Hades (representing the winter months), and the other part on Earth with Demeter (representing the #spring and #summer).
When Persephone returns to her mother each year Demeter's happiness shines through in the blooming of flowers and the revival of plant life, which is the arrival of spring and summer.
When Persephone goes back to the underworld, Demeter's grief sets in each year which is the onset of #autumn and #winter.
This was the story that was used to explain the changing of the seasons in ancient Greece. It emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and the importance of the harvest.
Persephone was the #goddess of #growth, #fertility and #love. After she marries the god of #hell she also becomes the goddess of #reincarnation and #ghosts.
Have you heard any other stories that explain the changing seasons? Please feel free to share below!
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