1. Persephone and Hades

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Persephone - Orpheus - Minotaur - Midas - Medusa - Trojan Horse - Cyclops - Penelope

Persephone is taken by Hades to the underworld. What will be the price for her return?

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Persephone and Hades - Audio with text

Synopsis

Part 1
Hermes begins with an introduction to himself and some of the other gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece - Zeus, Poseidon, Apollo - and their home on Mount Olympus. Hermes - who has winged boots and a winged helmet - then files down to the Earth, where he watches offerings being made to the goddess Demeter, and that becomes the springboard for his first story…

Part 2
Persephone is the daughter of Demeter, goddess of the Earth and of the harvest. Hermes relates how one day she is out picking flowers when Hades, god of the underworld, comes to the upper world and sees her. Hades is entranced and takes Persephone down to his underground kingdom to become his bride. When Demeter finds out what has happened she is inconsolable; she curses the Earth and the plants begin to wither and die. Zeus sends Hermes to bring Persephone back - and he must hurry, because if Persephone has eaten any food in the underworld she will have to stay there forever.

Part 3
Hermes arrives in the underworld where Hades offers Persephone a pomegranate to eat. Persephone is aware she must eat no food and intends only to drink the juice…but she swallows some of the pips. Hermes persuades Hades that Persephone should be allowed to return to her mother for six months of the year, and then to return to Hades and the underworld for the other six. And so it is that we have the seasons.