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Persephone in Greek Mythology | Overview, Appearance & Meaning

Sasha Blakeley, Christopher Muscato
  • Author
    Sasha Blakeley

    Sasha Blakeley has a Bachelor's in English Literature from McGill University and a TEFL certification. She has been teaching English in Canada and Taiwan for seven years.

  • Instructor
    Christopher Muscato

    Chris has a master's degree in history and teaches at the University of Northern Colorado.

Who is Persephone? Learn about Persephone in Greek mythology. What is Persephone the goddess of? What does she look like? Her powers? What does Persephone mean? Updated: 11/21/2023

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the story of Persephone?

Persephone was the daughter of Demeter, goddess of agriculture. She was abducted by Hades and forced to marry him. Her mother demanded that she return, but because she had eaten pomegranate seeds from the Underworld, she could only ever come back for six months out of the year.

Why did Persephone marry Hades?

Persephone married Hades because she was forced to: he abducted her and brought her to the Underworld. In some versions of the myth, her marriage makes her very unhappy.

Why is Persephone called Bringer of Death?

There are several different meanings attributed to the name Persephone, including 'Destroyer' or 'Bringer of Death.' This is most likely because of her association with Hades and the Underworld, though these are not necessarily accurate meanings of her name from an etymological standpoint.

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Who Is Persephone?

Who is Persephone? Persephone is a Greek goddess who was worshipped primarily in ancient Greece, primarily in the first millennium BCE. Virtually all ancient Greeks would have known about Persephone, meaning that she was a goddess of great importance. She was strongly associated with the Underworld and with agriculture and was married to the Greek god Hades. Her mother was Demeter.

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  • 0:04 Persephone
  • 1:02 Persephone & Hades
  • 2:55 The Meaning of the Myth
  • 4:16 Recognizing Persephone
  • 4:57 Lesson Summary
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What Does Persephone Look Like?

Many Greek gods are identifiable in works of art based on a few key characteristics, so what does Persephone look like? The story of Persephone hinges in large part on her being a strikingly beautiful young woman. She is usually depicted in art wearing a wreath of flowers on her head, or else holding bundles of flowers or grain. Sometimes, she carries a flaming torch to indicate her time in the Underworld. Many works of art depict Persephone either alongside Demeter or alongside Hades.

Persephone as a young woman holding two flaming torches
Persephone, Greek goddess of the Underworld, with torches

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