Persephone: Queen of Hell
Persephone: Queen of Hell
Persephone is known for being the wife of Hades, King of Hell, and Demeter's daughter - but who is she really and how has she impacted Greek mythology?
Persephone is the daughter of Demeter and the wife of Hades.
If you love Greek mythology, then you already know the story of this “damsel in distress.”
But let’s recap: Persephone, a young girl lives in the beautiful land of Etna, Sicily with her mother Demeter. Frolicking with her friend Kyane, a water spirit, she enjoys her spring days with the flowers of the Earth and the calm winds of the heavens. One day, Persephone was playing in the fields when the world was overcome with darkness.
The Earth shook until an opening in the surface was forced and a storm from hell emerged until the Earth was covered with fog from the Underworld. Hades’ world.
Before Demeter could come to the aid of her daughter, Hades snatched her and retreated into the Underworld leaving but a trace behind in his wake. Demeter, overcome with grief, could no longer hold back her anger and she thrust the world into six months of darkness.
Meanwhile, Persephone was forced to marry her wicked uncle, and became the unwilling Queen of Hell. The Earth grieved for the lovely young girl and her light and when the ice began to take over the world, the people began to starve and so did the gods.
Finally, knowing how dire the situation on Earth was getting, Zeus, Persephone’s father, decided to bring together Hades and Demeter. It was decided that Persephone would return to Earth but for only six months.
When the seasons changed and the world grew cold, Persephone would spend her time in Hades’ world reigning as the Queen of the Underworld.
The cycle continues to this day…
Every time I hear this story, I wonder about Persephone - what was she thinking when her life was decided without her consent? What was she feeling when she was stolen from the only world she’d ever known? How scared was she to reign as Queen knowing she never planned for this fate?
What did this young woman want from life that Demeter and Hades couldn’t give her?
The ironic thing in this whole sorted story is that Persephone may not be Demeter’s daughter at all, in fact she may be older than Hades.
Persephone means “destroying face.” The face has been the only to rule the Underworld. From the perspective of being a primordial spirit, Persephone is the one who rules and isn’t a damsel in distress as she is depicted in so many retellings of this legend.
Persephone is honored in the Eleusinian Mysteries and for many scholars, her roots lie not in her connection with Demeter but in her connection with Hell.
Some say she took Hades as her husband not the other way around.
So, if we look at Persephone as willing Queen, we must ask ourselves how does she feel about being portrayed as a damsel in distress?
No one likes playing the victim, especially when circumstance happens to place them in that position. But what’s so interesting about Persephone’s story is that we don’t really know if she was the victim. Could it be possible she was playing the fool for her own enjoyment?
Persephone is one of those fascinating figures that we don’t really know much about. She never gets to tell her side of the story and she never brings about major disruption on Earth or in Hades.
Instead, she remains forever a damsel whose distress is re-lived every six months for all eternity.
In today’s society, victimhood and being an actual victim are two vastly different things. Many times, people are “cancelled” for having the “wrong” opinion or saying something someone else doesn’t agree with. They are shamed by their peers to the point where their lives are ruined, and their stories are never fully told.
Like Persephone, we must learn to speak for ourselves. When someone wrongs us, we must face the situation with courage and bravery - even if there is nothing in the short term that can be done about it.
Persephone teaches us that we can overcome the most trying of challenges and find peace in the darkness through our own light. Like many of her predecessor gods and goddesses, she also drives the message of change and how inevitable as change may be, will always make you grow.
Change makes us grow like a flower and makes us use the faith we have inside of us to hold on one more day. Change of season, change of heart, or change of daily routine can make our world come to a halt.
But to see through those changes undoubtedly leaves us better off. Persephone understands, more than any other spiritual deity, that change is hard. So, if you are experiencing changes that feel unwelcomed - invoke her presence.
Whether or not Persephone was actually a victim is up for debate. But one thing is clear: she is a goddess who knows how to come out on top.
May her strength and beauty and light be by your side!
Blessed Be,
Magickal Michelle :)
(P.S. Persephone is also a great spirit for teenage girls trying to navigate rocky waters.)
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