Character/Random House

Persephone

generic, Greek and Roman mythology

Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. Hades made it known to Zeus that he desired Persephone as his wife. Zeus agreed, but knew that Demeter would object, so he allowed Hades to abduct her and carry her away to the Underworld. Demeter's despair caused the Earth to become barren, leading to widespread famine. Zeus forced Hades to agree to release Persephone, but before he did Hades offered Persephone pomegranate seeds, which she ate. Because she had tasted the food of the Underworld, she was obliged to remain there. A compromise was reached wherein Persephone would spend part of the year with Hades in the Underworld as his Queen and the other part back on Earth.