Persephone is known primarily for her relationships with other gods--as the daughter of Demeter, and as the wife of Hades. She therefore can be associated with the spring, and with the turning of the seasons, as well as being one to pray to on behalf of the dead. *

Myth

Persephone's myth is the story of her abduction by Hades. In Demeter's anguish she caused the earth to become barren, and would not return its fertility until Persephone was returned; however, while in the underworld Persephone had eaten several pomegranate seeds--and, having eaten in the underworld, she had to stay there for some months of the year. Each year, while Persephone was with her mother, the earth was fruitful; but when she went to be with her husband, Demeter's mourning caused the infertile season of the year.

Worship

Persephone, along with her mother Demeter, was celebrated in a number of festivals**, including the following:

• The Eleusian Mysteries, easily the most important of Demeter's festivals, was as much a festival of Persephone and drew men and women from all over Greece. The rituals were secret, and the participants kept these secrets so well that we know almost nothing about them; however, they seem to have had something to do with guaranteeing initiates a better place in the afterlife.
• Thesmophoria, a women's fertility festival of which little is known

References

• Burkert, Walter. Greek Religion. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1985.
• Gantz, Timothy. Early Greek Myth, Volumes 1 and 2. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1993.
• Johnston, Sarah Iles. Restless Dead: Encounters between the Living and the Dead in Ancient Greece. University of California Press, Berkeley, 1999.
• Kerenyi, Karl. The Gods of the Greeks. Thames and Hudson, London, 1951.
• Parke, H.W. Festivals of the Athenians. Thames and Hudson, London, 1977.
• Simon, Erika. Festivals of Attica: An Archaeological Commentary. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, Wisconsin, 1983.