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Hades And Persephone: A Story Of Love, Power and The Cycle Of Life
My fascination with theology and mythology was born years ago and it has only grown since. Initially, I felt more connected with Hindu mythology but as my interests grew, so did my knowledge of the Greek myths.
One such story that I have been devouring for some time now is that of Hades and Persephone. Their story is one of the most widely adapted in pop culture, which has led to further interest and glorification of the actual myth. Let’s get through the story first and then we’ll talk about what it means.
Hades, thanks to pop culture, we all know, is the God of the Underworld. He rules over the dead. He’s the God who decides over the fates of the dead souls. Naturally, not many want anything to do with him because, hey, it’s not like it’s a picnic going on down there.
Persephone, Goddess of the Flower and the daughter of Demeter (Goddess of Harvest and Agriculture) is a quintessential good girl. She’s beautiful and full of life.
One day she was roaming the fields when the earth opened up and in came Hades, on his chariot of jet-black horses. He immediately picked up Persephone and with her, fled to the Underworld immediately. Nobody knew what had happened to Persephone.
Persephone’s mother, Demeter, was distressed, to say the least. She was devastated, desperate to find her beloved daughter but nobody could tell of Persephone’s fate. Then somebody suggested to her that she go to the Sun God, Helios since he is ever-present and sees everything.
Holding on to that thread, Demeter asked Helios if he had seen Persephone the day she disappeared. He told her that the Lord of the Underworld had taken her with him. Demeter was in anguish when she heard this. Thinking to soothe her fears and to act as a marriage counsellor (because why not!), Helios told Demeter that she should not worry and instead be happy that her daughter has made such a match. He said that Hades is a powerful God as he rules 1/3rd of the universe and her daughter would have one of the most powerful Gods as her husband.
But Demeter was not happy. (Thank God for that!)
She mourned the loss of her only child and neglected her duties as the Goddess of Harvest and…
