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One day, a young goddess was out gathering flowers in a field with a group of Oceanids. The goddess’ name was Kore, goddess of spring and also Demeter and Zeus’ daughter (unsurprisingly, for the king of the gods rarely stays loyal to Hera).
Kore was the apple of her mother’s eye. Demeter would do anything for her daughter.
Whilst Kore was in the field she stumbled upon this most beautiful flower. It grew a hundred flowers from its root and the young goddess was mesmerised by it.
Kore reached out with both hands to pick the flower and as she pulled it from its roots, Hades sprung out of the ground with his horses and chariot and took her against her will.
The young goddess cried out for her father to stop this from happening but it was pointless for it was Zeus who had instructed Hades to take the girl.
Oh, how it broke my heart to hear her screams and be helpless to do anything to help.
Only one other heard her screams. The goddess, Hecate, heard Kore from her cave.
Kore kept screaming until she was dragged down to the Underworld and only then did Demeter finally hear her daughter’s screams.
Demeter sped off, searching everywhere on the globe for her beloved daughter. Alas, her search was for naught, for no one would tell her where the young girl was.
In her grief, she didn't touch ambrosia or nectar, nor did she bathe.
Demeter wasn't the only one suffering. For the globe was plunged into an ice age, making it dreadfully difficult for my darling humans to survive, even with my gift of fire.
But we cannot punish Demeter for what she did in her grief. It's a fickle thing, grief. It shows up in ways none would expect. I believe you humans say it works in stages but, my dear Reader, grief is love. You cannot have grief without love. Demeter’s grief showed the love she held for her daughter and no one should be punished for love.
After nine days and nights, Hecate finally told Demeter that Lord Hades had taken Kore down to the Underworld to be his bride.
Demeter thanked the goddess and flew into a fit of rage, demanding a meeting with the king of the gods, Zeus. Kore’s father.
On Olympus Zeus informed Demeter that it was him who had permitted Hades to take Kore as his bride and that he was well within his rights as her father to do so.
Demeter disagreed with her brother and demanded he summon Hades and Kore right this instant.
Only then did Zeus finally tell Demeter that it was too late for Kore had eaten the fruit of the Underworld and was required to spend half of the year in the Underworld with her husband.
(That is why we have what you humans call Winter and Autumn)
The king of the gods delivered one final blow to the goddess and told Demeter that Kore’s name had been changed and it was now Persephone.
My lovely Reader, do not be worried for Persephone. She actually grew to love Hades and of course his three-headed dog, Cerberus.
And every spring, Persephone comes back to us on the earth and brings the animals out of hibernation and makes the flowers bloom again.
Once you see the flowers bloom, you know Persephone and Demeter have reunited once more.