Persephone

Persephone is the daughter of Demeter by a mortal man. She is the Queen of the Underworld, goddess of life, death and spring and wife of Hades.

## History

*The following is subject to change*

She was born to Demeter and a mortal father who named her Kore. While she was still a young girl her father died and her mother consulted many oracles to help her protect her daughter. Even going so far as to seek the Fates themselves- it was from them that she learned that her daughter would one day be confined in the Underworld. Demeter fought to prevent this fate by being zealously overprotective of her girl but still, as Kore grew into a woman, she felt stifled by her protective mother. Kore journeyed into the underworld to find her mortal father. When she first arrived, seeking to sneak through undetected she was soon found out and Hades tried his best to dissuade the woman. As she argued against him, he saw in her an iron will and determination that inspired him to help her reunite with her father. He was careful to warn her not to eat anything grown in the Underworld- lest she could not go back without much suffering. After meeting with her father and once again feeling that she was loved and belonged and not just an item to be jealously protected, Kore decided impulsively that she would stay here with him in the tranquil Underworld. Secretly, she ingested pomegranate seeds so that she would not be stopped by Hades or her father. When she had been and talked with her father for nearly a full day, Hades arrived to take the young woman back to the gardens of Olympus in his chariot. But as Kore set foot on Olympus she doubled over in agony as the seeds had been digested- Hades acted quickly, grabbing the woman and carrying her back into the Underworld. An act that was not without witnesses as the poor goddess cried out for help. Returning to the Underworld he admonished her for being so careless and he saw the fire in her eyes as she explained that this was her choice and Hades felt himself awash again with admiration for the tenacious young goddess. Hecate, who had been helping Demeter search for her daughter, heard from Aphrodite that Hades had kidnapped Kore, though she wanted to figure out what was really happening, she told this to Demeter setting her on a warpath. Demeter threatened to freeze the world over if her daughter was not returned to her. But Hades was resolute, the young woman had made a choice and had chosen the Underworld.

Zeus was beseeched by the other gods and the mortals to settle the matter. He told Kore to return to Olympus- she refused and he called her Persephone (referring to her as a bringer of destruction). She actually liked the name so much that she adopted it for herself- having outgrown the name she bore as a child. Angry at Demeter, Hades and now Persephone for causing him such a headache he declared that Hades and Persephone would be wed- Persephone would be made Queen of the Underworld and that she would return for six months a year to Olympus to be with her mother. Persephone and Hades reluctantly accepted.

As the two were wed, the Underworld shifted as Hades shared with her his realm and the meadows of Asphodel began to bloom.

Demeter was furious and remains bitter about the ordeal. At first neither Hades nor Persephone were thrilled by the notion either, as neither of the pair were interested in marriage and Hades gave his bride her space. The two of them would grow to care for the other deeply and this would blossom into love.

Hecate apologised to Persephone for her part in causing Demeter's and promised to remain with the goddess in Underworld and Olympus as a friend and confidante. Persephone maintains a grove on the border of Elysium where Hecate dwells while they stay in the Underworld.