Persephone

My hero is Persephone, she is my hero because she taught me how to survive in the world.

Kore was the daughter of Zeus king of gods, and Demeter Goddess of Harvest. Demeter loved her daughter very much and since she was beautiful she kept her in iscolation. When Hades God of the Underworld saw Kore, he consorted Zeus asking him for her hand in marriage. Zeus agreed and set up a trap for Kore. Demeter had no idea what was going on.

One day when Demeter had no run errands Kore was left to play with Nyphth companions in the Plains of Enna. They were picking flowers and Kore saw a narkasis and had to pick it! The flower was the trap, and as sooon as she picked it the Earth split and Hades kidnapped her. It happened so quick that a short scream was all that was heard.

Demeter sensing something wrong went to go find Kore. But alas she found nothing. =( Demeter goes to a distant town and she ends up babysitting this kid. She grew found of the kid and decided to make it immortal which required putting him into the fire for several nights. One night the mother walked in and snatched the kid away. Then Demeter grew to her Goddess form, and the mother grew fearful. The town built a temple in Demeter's name. Demeter blessed the temple. Then continued to look for her daughter.

On her journey she found Hekitae Goddess of magic, who was carrying torches. She claimed to have heard Kore's scream from her cave. They searched for a while then got the idea to ask Helios God of the Sun. So they went to visit Helios and he said he saw Hades consort with Zeus, and then kidnapped Kore. When Demeter heard Zeus's part in her abduction she became furious. So she went to go see Zeus, and refused to let the crops grow until Kore was returned to her. Zeus who could not let this happen sent Hermies to go to the Underworld and retrive Kore.

So he went to the Underworld but found that Kore had changed, ALOT. She grew into her position as hostess of the Underworld. Hermies talked to Hades who reluctantly agreed to let her go. But before she departed he gave her the seed of a pomegranet which bound her to the Underworld. As soon as she ate it she became known as Persephone. Persephone means she who must be feared. ({( Kore meant the maiden [innocence])}). So she returned to Greece and embraced her mother with a hug. =) But sadly Demeter sensed something was still wrong. So she asked Persephone if she ate anything in the Underworld. Persephone said yes, the seed of a pomegranent, and Demeter grew dreadful at the thought of Persephone being bound to the Underworld. So she took trial to Zeus and it was agreed that Persephone must stay 1/3 of the year in the Underworld. Every time she decended to the Underworld Demeter refused to let anything grow. Thus became our seasons.

Persephone is my hero because she survived horrors that symbolically squeeze their way into daily life. I admire her because she is strong.