Nowadays you hear people talk about Persephone and Hades being referred to as the ultimate love story. Even the media has started to portray this love story between the two deities. But is this really a love story or is it more dark and sinister? Does spin a web of entrapment and stockholm syndrome? If we take a look into the mythology of how Persephone came to be the wife of god of the underworld. A darker tale is told than what this day and age is trying to weave. In the story we see how Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter.
One day she is kidnapped and taken to the underworld by Hades. As Demeter goes into a panic the world begins to suffer and the crops began to die. Hekate hears the cries of Persephone and sees the distraught Demeter and decides to tell her that her daughter was taken by Hades. (This part of the story will fluctuate depending on what version you read) In the end Demeter goes to Zeus to ask for his aid in getting her daughter back .To which Zeus agrees and sends Hermes to tell Hades he must return Persephone . Hades knew he couldn't refuse Zeus , But he didn't want to lose his captive Persephone, So he devised a plan to insure her return. It was known anyone who ate the food of the underworld would be bound to that realm. So he tricked Persephone into eating the seeds of pomegranate , Knowing it bound her to his realm. When Zeus discovered what had been done an arrangement was made. That for every seed she ate she would have to spend that time in the underworld.
This story explains to the ancient greeks how spring came to be and why the winter months had no green life. Some stories have theorized that Hades actually came to Zeus for permission . While on the other side it was a plan that Hades had come up with. So how does a story of being kidnapped against her will turn into a love story? Some say there is many different stories of this event. Due to the many times that Persephone has shown up in all these greek myths. But a recurring theme is always about during these encounters. Sometimes she is seen as spiteful and unhappy , while in others she is seen as going against her husband to help those heros.
But if we look past the nature cycle aspect and the other mythos from the later accounts of her. We start to focus solely on this myth we see some disturbing things arise. This shows a woman being taken away from all that she knows. Taken and enslaved by her captor who has feelings for her and yet she has none for him. As time goes on we see Stockholm Syndrome
Come into play as she is forced to accept her surroundings. What would've happened if she never ate the fruit of the lord of the underworld. Would she have returned of her own free will? If this was a story that was written in today's world would it still be perceived as a love story Or one of survival? In our world we see stories like this every day where a woman is taken against her will and forced to do what is necessary just to live. So what is it about this story that screams so much about love? Is it because of his love for her and seeing her as this unattainable item. Could it possibly be that we are stuck in this middle where we crave dominance and the ability to be someones everything. To where they would go to the extremes to find us and have us that speaks to us?
Just because we do something one way doesn't mean that the origins of it fit the narrative .As we get closer to spring these are the subjects that I wish for us to think about. I myself don't just celebrate her return for the new life that comes to be. But I celebrate her freedom from darkness and oppression from whence she came. To me it is a story of survival and that no matter where we came from or what darkness overshadowed us. That we have the ability to start anew and from those experiences something positive can blossom . So during your ritual/spells remember this is not only a time to plant the seeds of what we want. But also a time for us to grow from the experiences that shape us . A time where selfcare and love can come together and make something that will continue to grow with the seasons.
Comments