Pluto and Persephone

Ceres, sister of Jupiter, was the mother of Persephone. After Persephone's abduction, Ceres wandered the world in search of her. Finally she learned of her daughter's fate, and pleaded with Jupiter, who happened also to be the father of Persephone, to obtain the release of Persephone from the dark kingdom of the underworld. He consented, providing Ceres not eat anything during her stay in the lower world. Unfortunately Ceres ate some seeds of a pomegranate which Pluto had offered to her. After much crying and sadness, Jupiter allowed a compromise, whereby Persephone was allowed to spend half of each year in the light of day, on Earth with her mother, and the other half in the underworld, where she reigned as Queen of the Underworld alongside her husband the god Pluto. During the half year with her mother, spring and summer cover the Earth in warmth, flowers bloom, fruit is on the trees, and the birds raise their young in nests in the branches of the trees. During autumn and winter, the Earth is in the grip of icy cold, flowers die, the trees are barren, and birds disappear from their nests. This legend, therefore, relates the mythological creation of the seasons.

The terra cotta bas relief shown to the left, "Hades and Persephone," shows Pluto and his Queen as they rule over the underworld.


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Pluto and Persephone

p> Ceres, sister of Jupiter, was the mother of Persephone. After Persephone's abduction, Ceres wandered the world in search of her. Finally she learned of her daughter's fate, and pleaded with Jupiter, who happened also to be the father of Persephone, to obtain the release of Persephone from the dark kingdom of the underworld. He consented, providing Ceres not eat anything during her stay in the lower world. Unfortunately Ceres ate some seeds of a pomegranate which Pluto had offered to her. After much crying and sadness, Jupiter allowed a compromise, whereby Persephone was allowed to spend half of each year in the light of day, on Earth with her mother, and the other half in the underworld, where she reigned as Queen of the Underworld alongside her husband the god Pluto. During the half year with her mother, spring and summer cover the Earth in warmth, flowers bloom, fruit is on the trees, and the birds raise their young in nests in the branches of the trees. During autumn and winter, the Earth is in the grip of icy cold, flowers die, the trees are barren, and birds disappear from their nests. This legend, therefore, relates the mythological creation of the seasons.

The terra cotta bas relief shown to the left, "Hades and Persephone," shows Pluto and his Queen as they rule over the underworld.


Click on image for full size (SIZE)
REPLACE ME WITH WHERE IMAGE IS FROM

Pluto and Persephone

p> Ceres, sister of Jupiter, was the mother of Persephone. After Persephone's abduction, Ceres wandered the world in search of her. Finally she learned of her daughter's fate, and pleaded with Jupiter, who happened also to be the father of Persephone, to obtain the release of Persephone from the dark kingdom of the underworld. He consented, providing Ceres not eat anything during her stay in the lower world. Unfortunately Ceres ate some seeds of a pomegranate which Pluto had offered to her. After much crying and sadness, Jupiter allowed a compromise, whereby Persephone was allowed to spend half of each year in the light of day, on Earth with her mother, and the other half in the underworld, where she reigned as Queen of the Underworld alongside her husband the god Pluto. During the half year with her mother, spring and summer cover the Earth in warmth, flowers bloom, fruit is on the trees, and the birds raise their young in nests in the branches of the trees. During autumn and winter, the Earth is in the grip of icy cold, flowers die, the trees are barren, and birds disappear from their nests. This legend, therefore, relates the mythological creation of the seasons.

The terra cotta bas relief shown to the left, "Hades and Persephone," shows Pluto and his Queen as they rule over the underworld.


Click on image for full size (SIZE)
REPLACE ME WITH WHERE IMAGE IS FROM


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