Persephone

• Mentioned In: 1.31 - Home for the Holidays
• Played By: None (Mention Only)

Persephone, the goddess of Spring, is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She is also the wife of Hades, and their union is what the Ancient Greeks attributed the seasons to. In one version of the story, Zeus willingly allowed Hades to abduct Persephone, who had been hidden away on Earth by her mother. In another, Hades was under the influence of one of Cupid's arrows when he stole her away. So distraught was Demeter over her daughter's disappearance that, for months, the world was plunged into desolation. No crops grew, and several people and animals started to die of starvation. Finally, Zeus was forced to make Hades give Persephone up. When Hermes went to find her, Hades agreed to let her return to the mortal world. Before releasing her, however, he gave her some pomegranate seeds to eat. Thus, because she'd eaten food in the Underworld, she was now obligated to spend 1/3 of every year there.