Artist’s Statement

Myth of Persephone

Persephone and her beloved mother Demeter is the myth of the feminine on both the personal and universal plane.  It is symbolic of the rites of passage that take place in the developmental stages of the feminine psyche and in the seasons on the earth. In this work we see Persephone returning to her mother from the underworld into Spring. Three golden Pomegranate seeds held high represent the knowledge she must return to Hades in the Winter. 

Here is an excerpt from Pagan Grace by Ginette Paris.

“Hades, brother of Zeus, snatched the maiden while she was out picking flowers one day and claimed her as his bride, Zeus apparently having given his permission for this deed.  Many were the trials of poor Demeter while she strove to reclaim her daughter and, because of her distress, she withdrew her energies so that nothing would grow on Earth and both gods and men were forced to plead with her to restore her bounty.  

Demeter was adamant; she would not permit the Earth to bear fruit until she had seen her daughter again.  Zeus eventually sent Hermes to Hades with a request to return the maiden who had been renamed Persephone.  Hades grudgingly complied but managed to persuade her to eat a few pomegranate seeds beforehand, these being the symbol of marriage, which permanently sealed the union.  

When once again she fell into her mother’s arms, Demeter questioned her as to whether she had eaten anything while within Hades’ domains because, ‘If thou hast not eaten thou shalt live with me on Olympus.  But if thou hast, then thou must return to the depths of the Earth.’  Poor Persephone admitted that she had eaten the pomegranate seeds, much to Demeter’s chagrin, but as a compromise Zeus decided that Persephone should dwell one-third of the year with her husband and the remaining two-thirds with her mother.  Demeter settled for this bargain and once again the Earth brought forth fruit in abundance and all things flourished.”