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Persephone
Children's Myth of
Persephone by Laura M. LaVoie
Blessing:
Persephone is the Queen of the Underworld, who remains
below the earth nine months out of year. Haides is a
distant and frightening God, but Persephone is
approachable, since there is still something about the
upper world about her. She offers comfort and solace to
those who have died, or lost someone, and she aids in the
transition from life to death. Her Mysteries give hope of
a better fate in the afterlife. And she protects us
against magic and violence.
Epithets:
Agne (Pure), Despoina (Mistress), Epaine (Awesome), Kore
(Maiden), Proserpine (Variant spelling)
Symbols:
torch, crown, stalks of grain, pomegranate
Animal(s):
Sacrifices:
narcissus, pomegrannate, poplars, willow, pigs
Primary Cult Center(s):
Eleusis, Syracuse
Festivals:
The Greater Mysteries: Boedromion 14-21
(September-October)
Skira: 12 Skiraphorion (June-July)
Stenia: 9 Puanepsion (October-November)
Thesmophoria: 9, 11-13 Puanepsion
(October-November)
Ways to honor:
Give comfort to those who have lost a loved one.
Appreciate the gift of life, and how fragile and precious
it is. Donate money or time to rape crisis
counsiling.
For more information:
Apollodorus' Library 1.1.5-1.2.1, 1.5.1-3, 1.6.1,
2.5.12, 2.6.1, 3.12.2, 3.6.8, 3.7.1, 3.12.1, 3.14.7
Aollodorus' Epitome1.23, 3.14.4
Apollonius Rhodius' Argonautica
Aristophanes' Women Celebrating the Thesmophoria
Euripides' Helen 1301-1368
Hesiod's Theogony 767-774, 908-911, 965-974
Homer's Iliad 9.457, 9.568
Homer's Odyssey 5.125-128, 10.492-495, 10.510,
11.213-218, 11.225-257, 11.632-635
Homeric Hymn to Demeter 2, 13
Hyginus' Fabulae 83, 141, 146, 147
Hyginus' Poetica Astronomica 2.4, 2.25
Ovid's Metamorphoses 5.341-571, 6.118-119,
8.738-878, 9.422-423
Pausanias' Description of Greece 1.13.8, 1.14.3,
1.37.2, 2.5.8, 8.15.1-4, 8.25.2-8, 8.37.6-9,
8.42.1-13
Bibliography
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Children's Myth of Persephone by Laura
M. LaVoie
Upon the dawning of Spring, Persephone was about to celebrate her
coming of age. Demeter decided to throw a wonderful party in honor of
her daughter. Demeter charged the little goatfoot god, Pan, with the
guest list. So Pan traveled the countryside spreading the news to all
the Gods and Nymphs and Animals.
After some time, Pan though that he was finished when he heard the
soft sound of crying from the Rabbit's warren. Pan knelt down and
called into the tunnels, "hello, Rabbit, is that you?" After a moment
the timid Rabbit poked his head out of the den, his fur was matted
with his own tears. "What's wrong?" Pan asked.
"You have invited me to Persephone's Coming of Age and I wish to
go, but I cannot bring myself to show my face. Persephone has been so
kind to me, but I cannot think of anything that I can bring her as a
gift. I want only to please her."
Pan couldn't help himself and he laughed out loud. This only
caused Rabbit to sob louder. "No, Rabbit, I didn't mean to make light
of your trouble, but you mustn't worry so much. Persephone wouldn't
want to see you like this. All you have to do is make her something
from your heart - something you yourself have created." Pan pat the
Rabbit on his head, "I will see you tomorrow for the Party."
After Pan left, Rabbit thought about what he could make. He was
good at building warrens, but Persephone had little use for an
underground nest. Rabbit's thoughts were soon interrupted.
"Rabbit! Oh Rabbit!" Hollered Chicken as she came running to his
warren with a basket of fresh eggs. "Here are the eggs I promised you
for your breakfast."
"Oh, thank you, Chicken, I am looking forward to enjoying
them."
"Then I will see you at the Party tomorrow?" Chicken asked.
Rabbit nodded, "I suppose you will." And he hurried back into his
nest and placed the basket of eggs in a safe place before going to
sleep.
Rabbit woke suddenly as the golden rays of morning light were
flooding the warren. He had an idea! He looked into the basket that
Chicken has given him and lifted out an egg. He considered the egg
very closely. It would certainly make a lovely gift for Persephone.
But, he thought, not as it was. Rabbit took the eggs up to the bright
sunlight and gathered saffron, grapes and all other manner of things
that could be made into vibrant dyes. Rabbit spent most of the
morning painstakingly painting elaborate patterns on the eggs. When
he was done he admired them - they were all very lovely. Rabbit
placed all of the pretty eggs back in the basket.
Just then he noticed everyone headed to the grove for the party.
Rabbit carefully carried the basket to the grove and joined the back
of the line for presenting gifts to Persephone. One by one, she
received each gift of elaborate jewels and garments from all the
creatures, nymphs and Gods.
Rabbit waited impatiently at the back of the line. He felt Pan's
hand on his back, "Look at Persephone's face." The little God
whispered, "she is unhappy with these gifts. They do not come from
the heart."
Finally the Rabbit reached the head of the line. He looked timidly
up at the Goddess and said, "Lady, I have made this for you," and he
handed her the basket.
Persephone's face lit up. "Rabbit, this is the most beautiful gift
that I have ever received. The egg is the symbol of life, and you
have made it more beautiful than it was. I want everyone to share in
this joy!"
So all of the animals and the nymphs and the Gods spent the
afternoon painting eggs. Then they made up games to hide the eggs and
look for them. No one remembered ever having so much fun.
So each year, upon Persephone's return from the underworld, she
celebrates the spring this way.
A Story
When Homer died and arrived in the Underworld, the great Queen,
Persephone, met him. The goddess smiled slyly at him and said,
"Great Poet, you have written a hymn for all the other Goddesses but
none for me. When shall I get my poem?" And Homer knew that if he
didn't want to spend his days like Sisyphus or Tantalus in eternal
punishment, he best compose a Hymn for the dread goddess. So on the
spot, there in the entrance to the underworld itself, Homer sang the
sweetest song only for Persephone to hear. Because the hymn was
composed in the underworld for Persephone herself, no mortal ear has
ever heard it.