In Greek mythology, Persephone is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. Her life is defined by her role as the queen of the underworld following her abduction by her uncle, Hades, who made her his wife. This event serves as the mythological explanation for the changing of the seasons.
Persephone functions as the embodiment of spring and the personification of vegetation, particularly grain crops. Her cyclical journey—descending into the earth to remain hidden with Hades and then returning to the surface—mirrors the agricultural cycle of sowing, dormancy, and harvest. This duality makes her a central figure in understanding the relationship between the fertility of the earth and the realm of the dead.