Persephone: Myth, Ritual, and Modern Worship

Somehow every video is longer than the last…

In this video, I chat about the mythology of Persephone and the various ancient tellings of her descent to the underworld. I discuss her development and worship as a deity, some of the main themes and my takeaways from her tale, and how she is interpreted by modern pagans and magical practitioners.

Persephone is one of my favorite mythological figures. Her story is rich and each of the many versions includes details that substantively change our interpretations of it. Thanks for watching!

Ancient versions of Hades and Persephone:
Ovid, Fasti, 4
Ovid, Metamorphoses, Book 5
Claudian, De Raptu Proserpinae

For more on Orphism, check out the work of Radcliffe Edmonds III.

Other primary sources mentioned:
Priestesses of Proserpina from Magna Graecia (Cicero, Pro Balbo 55)
Odysseus goes to the underworld (Homer, Odyssey 10)
Orpheus goes to the underworld (Ovid, Metamorphoses, Book 11; Vergil, Georgics 4)
Aeneas goes to the underworld (Vergil, Aeneid 6)

Modern Persephone Work:

Images:
Statue of Persephone, Magna Graecia (5th c.): Nemracc (via Wikimedia Commons)
"Queen of the Night" relief representing either Ereshkigal or Ishtar: Babelstone (via Wikimedia Commons)
Demeter, Persephone, and Triptolemos: Napoleon Vier (via Wikimedia Commons)
Linguistic map of Magna Graecia: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Statue of Hades and Cerberus: Carole Reddato (via Wikimedia Commons)
The Fates (Moirai): Johann Gottfried Schadow, ca. 18th-19th c.: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
The Rape of Proserpina, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1621-22: Architas (via Wikimedia Commons)
Relief of Pluto (Hades) abducting Proserpina, 2nd c. CE: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Relief of Hades and Persephone: AlMare (via Wikimedia Commons)
Orpheus Mourning the Death of Eurydice, Ary Scheffer, 1814: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
"Ninnion Tablet" depicting the Eleusinian Mysteries, from Eleusis (4th c. BCE): Marsyas (?) (via Wikimedia Commons)

[jekabarrentine]

For me, Persephone also represents duality (going along with her being liminal). I don't have to choose between being the goddess of spring or the queen of the underworld, I can be both. I have carried that idea around with me since I was a child. Being multifaceted. Then, maturing and identifying with bisexuality, Persephone once again really registered with me. I like the symbol of the pomegranate, because to me it's a symbol of her owning her power (takeing on her role of queen), and of her nature (blossoms in spring and summer, but comes to full fruit in autumn). Like the "maiden" idea of spring, and the matured married (reflection of The Mother) we associate with her Queen of Hades in fall and winter. Really enjoyed your video!

[LvxidDG]

For me, working with Persephone is really unique because shes a goddess with so many different sides to her and can be associated with every season. I think she is a particularly attractive deity to work with for trauma survivors, like you mentioned because she is very representative of shadow work and going from being an innocent maiden of spring to queen of the underworld. That duality resonates very heavy for me. Another aspect is aging, maturing, going from being a girl to a woman and stepping into your power and integrating all the things you have lived through and learned. Fragmentation and denial is a big thing for a lot of people who have trauma, so Persephone has helped me to take all the fragments of myself, pieces of myself I want to forget or deny and accept them and like I mentioned, integrate into one whole thing. I do have an altar dedicated to her and celebrate her year round. A lot of symbology associated with her are flowers and death, so I tend to dry bouquets or put bones, bat and crow symbols, pomegranates, etc on her altar

[jaydenat.hannah]

Just wanted to leave a compliment for your work, it's invaluable for those of us that struggle with academic articles but worship the gods

[cerberusguardianofthegates]

From the tree of souls to the pit of sorrow and lamentations I thank you for such a wonderful feeling of Honour and respect felt whilst watching and loving this video, Many heart felt Thanks. ~Shadows.

[mitskibf]

I stumbled upon this video while looking for some information before setting up an altar for Persephone as my partner worships Hades and I wanted to create some space in our home to honour Her. This was the most informative video I've ever watched on Hellenism, thank you so much. Can't wait to watch all your future videos!

[curiosity]

Pleasantly surprised by your video. I am a book and history nerd and I often find that videos/resources about Persephone don't go this much into detail on the sources, so I really appreciated the fact that you mentioned several different versions of the myths, it might help someone who is just starting out to get a fuller picture on her. I hope your channel grows in the future, you deserve it!
I am one of the few (I noticed this as well) who work with Persephone in her Goddess of the Underworld aspect all year round, and indeed shadow work is part of my practice with her. I think I resonated with her years and years ago because in her cthonic aspect I feel she's the archetype of someone whose life gave her lemons so she made lemonade, so to speak. She has been and is a very important part of my journey of acceptance and transformation.
Very curious to see all your other videos now. Keep up the good work :)

[ConjureCutie]

I would love a video on the Italian originations and practices ❤ love this introductory video

[herfeminineflow]

I’ve been seeing Persephone around recently. What I’ve noticed I feel in connection with her is the katabasis of pregnancy and birth. Going within oneself during pregnancy and gestating a child feels like the going down into the underworld while birth feels like coming back up with the reward (a child and the wisdom gained in pregnancy and parturition)….thank you so much for sharing 💞

[lilywalbridge]

What an absolutely beautiful video! As a Persephone devotee myself, even I learned some new information about Her! It just goes to show there's always more to know, especially when it comes to ancient Deities! You were completely right when talking about the modern worship of Persephone, and how it is, for most everybody who follows Her at least to my knowledge, intrinsically tied to the cycle of the seasons. While on one hand Presephone is the Maiden Of Spring, on the other She is also the Queen Of The Underworld, and that amazing duality of her Divinity is what makes Her such an inspiring, beautiful Goddess! Usually, from what I've seen and partake in myself, people tend to focus more on one of the two main sides of Persephone that correlates to where She currently is living, the Goddess Of Spring durning the warmer months, and the Goddess Of The Dead durning the colder months. But it is not to be mistaken that those parts of her are seperate, or are considered seperate, The Maiden Of Spring And The Queen Of The Underworld are both Persephone, and both make up who She is as a Goddess! Anyhow, amazing video and channel, I can't wait to see more from you! 💕❤

[jogenhummingbird]

Something I thought was really interesting about how the Romans seemingly appropriated Persephone into Proserpina from their word “proserpere”; the word “proserpere” does refer to how grain grows, or more generally how vegetation and life returns from the “underworld” (referring to beneath the Earth’s surface where light is not shining, nutrient rich space where pressure is applied and where gems come from) when the seasons change/growing season begins i.e. when Persephone returns from the underworld and Demeter restores life and nourishment to the Earth. Interesting how the English word “prosper” comes from her Roman appropriation, and is directly correlated to the crop yield with the changing of the seasons allowing life to be sustained with nature’s abundant resources. Also referring to her time spent in the underworld facing her oppressor/captor, shadows of her trauma, grieving her innocence, and maturing into her queendom as a result (therefore a tangible expression of her metaphorically becoming the gem under pressure in the “underworld”). Such a beautiful sentiment and story that has survived the oppression of the Roman Catholic Church/Empire/Patriarchy and is still one of the most inspiring and profound Goddess stories we have the gift of experiencing. Thank you for sharing your insight and your perspective! (interesting how the word “perspective” phonetically almost sounds like her Greek name, which she gained TONS of perspective having gone through her Plutonian initiation) 🙏🏻

[estaleka]

Watching you from Brazil! 👋🏻

Just starting to worship Persephone, and your video was delightful! Truly informative in a sea of online content with no sources, especially among present deity work. Rly glad I found you, I even took some notes so I can do research later!

Thank you and congrats on your content! Blessed be! ✨

[mikedoucette]

One more thing to add. Thank you for your non biased delivery.

[ultravioletpisces]

20:00 if you think about it… it also explains seasonal affective disorder.

[lachlainegordon]

I haven’t even finished this but this is one of the most thorough vid on Persephone! Thank you!

[bellatrixmoon]

Devotee of Persephone here❤ nice video!

[marymagdalene]

I have read and heard about the story of Hades and Persephone since I was a child and it is one of my two most favourite Greek myths. Your explanation of the story and the different sources and links you have presented was one of the best I have come across in all these years. Amazing job!

[grace-]

Im really loving the way you are covering this! I’m just learning about deity work and so I really appreciate this breakdown.

[MyriadLad]

Thank you so much for this video! I adore mythology and have felt drawn to Persephone since I was little, this was very helpful to learn about her! You are a very good story teller and informer! 💚

[casandramunoz]

She's a very important goddess to me for several personal reasons. I have a unique perspective of her as compared to some. She's was also my very first patron goddess.

[rosewelsh]

The Aquarian Tabernacle Church holds a very well produced modern version of the Mysteries every spring in Washington state.