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RAPE PERSEPH
Greek Name Transliteration Haids, Hads Persephon

L S

HAIDES abducted the springgoddess PERSEPHONE to the underworld to be his bride and queen.

OTHER R

Rape of Per Rape of P

OTHER H

This page OTHER P describes the Greek versions of Persephone the tale, beginning Persephone Persephone with an abbridged version of the celebrated Homeric Hymn to Demeter, wh minor versions such as that of summaries, and other odd refe

Haides Intro Haides Esta Haides Cult

The oldest version of the story Eleusis, near Athens. Later aut Greek-Italians, set the story in Argives and Kretans, in local c possess the site of the Rape or

RAPE OF PERSEPHONE (APO

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliothec (Greek mythographer C2nd A.

"Plouton [Haides] fell in love w Zeus help secretly kidnapped earth over in search of her, by torches. When she learned from Plouton [Haides] had kidnappe gods she left the sky, and in th made her way to Eleusis . . . When Zeus commanded Plouto [Persephone] back up, Plouton seed to eat, as assurance that long with her mother. With no outcome of her act, she consu son of Akheron and Gorgyra, b in punishment for which Deme a heavy rock in Haides realm. obliged to spend a third of eac the remainder of the year amo

RAPE OF PERSEPHONE (HO

I) HAIDES ABDUCTS PERSEPH

Homeric Hymn 2 to Demeter ( White) (Greek epic C7th or 6th "[Demeter's] trim-ankled daug [Haides] rapt away, given to h loud-thunderer. Apart from De sword and glorious fruits, she deep-bosomed daughters of O flowers over a soft meadow, ro beautiful violets, irises also an narcissus, which Gaia made to and to please Polydektor (the H snare for the bloom-like girl flower. It was a thing of awe w or mortal men to see: from its blooms and it smelled most sw heaven (ouranos) above and t the sea's (thalassa's) salt swel girl was amazed and reached o take the lovely toy: but the wi there in the plain of Nysa, and (Host of Many), with his immo upon her--the Son of Kronos, P many names). He caught her up reluctant on her away lamenting. Then she voice, calling upon her father, who is most high and excellent the deathless gods or mortal m

yet the olive-trees bearing rich hearted Hekate, bright-coiffed, heard the girl from her cave, a Sun), Hyperion's bright son, as the Son of Kronos. But he was the gods, in his temple where sweet offerings from mortal m Son of Kronos, Polynomos (of Polysemantor (Ruler of Many) Many), was bearing her away immortal chariot - his brother' And so long as she, the godde starry heaven and the strong-f shoal, and the rays of the sun, dear mother and the tribes of hope clamed her great heart fo the heights of the mountains a ran with her immortal voice : a heard her.

II) DEMETER SEARCHES FOR P

"Bitter pain seized her heart, a upon her divine hair with her d she cast down from both her s wild-bird, over the firm land an her child. But no one would tel god nor mortal man; and of th came with true news for her. T queenly Deo wandered over th torches in her hands, so grieve ambrosia and the sweet draug sprinkled her body with water. enlightening dawn had come, H her hands, met her, and spoke : `Queenly Demeter, bringer o good gifts, what god of heaven what mortal man has rapt awa with sorrow your dear heart? F saw not with my eyes who it w and shortly all I know.' So, then, said Hekate. And [De rich-haired Rheia answered he with her, holding flaming torch came to Helios, who is watchm men, and stood in front of his goddess enquired of him : `He regard me, goddess as I am, if mine I have cheered your hear fruitless air (aitheros) I heard daughter whom I bare, sweet lovely in form, as of one seized

my eyes I saw nothing. But yo you look down from the bright all the earth and sea--tell me t you have seen her anywhere, has violently seized her agains so made off.' So said she. And [Helios] the S her : `Queen Demeter, daugh will tell you the truth; for I gre you in your grief for your trimother of the deathless gods is gathering Zeus who gave her t brother, to be called his buxom her and took her loudly crying realm of mist and gloom. Yet, lament and keep not vain ange Polysemantor (Ruler of Many) among the deathless gods for own brother and born of the sa honour, he has that third share division was made at the first, those among whom he dwells. So he spake, and called to his they quickly whirled the swift c winged birds. But grief yet mo came into the heart of Demete so angered with [Zeus] the da that she avoided the gathering Olympos. She [Demeter] vowe set foot on fragrant Olympos n the ground until she beheld wi faced daughter.

III) THE RETURN OF PERSEPHO

"Now when all-seeing Zeus the this, he sent Argeiphontes [He gold to Erebos, so that having words, he might lead forth cha light from the misty gloom to j her mother might see her with her anger. And Hermes obeyed of Olympos, straightway spran hidden places of the earth. And in his house seated upon a cou him, much reluctant, because mother. But she was afar off, b design becuase of the deeds o strong Argeiphontes [Hermes] `Dark-haired Aides, ruler over Zeus bids me bring noble Pers unot the gods, that her mothe

eyes and cease from her dread immortals; for now she plans a the weakly tribes of earth-born hidden beneath the earth, and the honours of the undying go anger and does not consort wi in her fragrant temple, dwellin Eleusis.' So he said. And Aidoneus, rule grimly and obeyed the behest straightway urged wise Persep Persephoneia, to your dark-rob kindly in your heart towards m cast down; for I shall be no un among the deathless dods, tha father Zeus. And while you are that lives and moves and shall among the deathless gods: tho do not appease your power wit performing rites and paying fit for evermore.' When he said this, wise Persep and hastily sprang up for gladn secretly gave her sweet pomeg taking care for himself that she continually with grave, dark-ro Aidoneus Polysemantor (Ruler ready his deathless horses ben And she mounted on the chari Argeiphontes [Hermes] took re hands and drove forth from th speeding readily. Swiftly they course, and neither the sea no glens nor mountain-peaks che immortal horses, but they cleft as they went. And Hermes bro where rich-crowned Demeter w them before her fragrant temp And when Demeter saw them, a Mainas (Maenad) down some while Persephone on the other mother's sweet eyes, left the c leaped down to run to her, and embraced her. But while Deme dear child in her arms, her hea for some snare, so that she fea fondling her daughter and aske child, tell me, surely you have you were below? Speak out an both know. For if you have not from loathly Aidao and live wit [Zeus] the dark-clouded Son o

by all the deathless gods; but you must fo back again beneat earth, there to dwell a third pa year: yet for the tow parts you other deathless gods. But whe with the fragrant flowers of sp from the realm of darkness an up once more to be a wonder f And now tell me how he rapt y darkness and gloom, and by w [Haides] Polydegmon (Host of Then beautiful Persephone ans `Mother, I will tell you all with bringing Hermes came, swift m the Son of Kronos and the othe bidding me come back from Er me with your eyes and so ceas fearful wrath against the gods, joy; but he secretly put in my pomegranate seed, and forced will. Also I will tell how he rapt plan of my father [Zeus] the S me off beneath the depths of t the whole matter as you ask. `All we were playing in a lovel Phaino and Elektra and Ianthe with Rhodea and Kallirhoe and Okyrhoe, fair as a flower, Khry Admete and Rhodope and Plou Styx too was there and Ourani with Pallas who rouses battles arrows: we were playing and g our hands, soft crocuses mingl hyacinths, and rose-blooms an see, and the narcissus which t grow yellow as a crocus. That the earth parted beneath, and [Haides] Polydegmon (Host of in his golden chariot he bore m beneath the earth: then I cried is true, sore though it grieves So did they then, with hearts a the other's soul and spirit with hearts had relief from their gri gave back joyousness. Then br near to them, and often did sh of holy Demeter: and from tha was minister and companion to

IV) GIFT OF AGRICULTURE & T MYSTERIES

"And all-seeing Zeus sent a me haired Rheia, to bring dark-clo families of the gods (phyla the give her what rights she shoul deathless gods and agreed tha down for the third part of the c and gloom, but for the two par mother and the other deathles commanded. And the goddess message of Zeus; swiftly she r peaks of Olympos and came to fertile corn-land once, but then lay idle and utterly leafless, be hidden by design of trim-ankle afterwards, as spring-time wax waving with long ears of corn, loaded with grain upon the gro already be bound in sheaves. T from the fruitless upper air (ai the goddesses to see each oth Then bright-coiffed Rheia said daughter; for far-seeing Zeus you to join the families of the g give you what rights you pleas gods, and has agreed that for year your daughter shall go do gloom, but for the two parts sh other deathless gods: so has h has bowed his head in token. B and be not too angry unrelenti clouded Son of Kronos; but rat men the fruit that gives them So spake Rheia. And rich-crow refuse but straightway made fr rich lands, so that the whole w leaves and flowers. Then she [Demeter] went to [t she showed them the conduct them all her mysteries . . . aw one may in any way transgres deep awe of the gods checks t among men upon earth who h but he who is uninitiate and w never has lot of like good thing in the darkness and gloom. Bu had taught them all, they wen gathering of the other gods. An Zeus who delights in thunder, goddesses. Right blessed is he whom they freely love: soon th guest to his great house, Plout mortal men.

And now . . . queen Deo, be gr daughter all beauteous Persep grant me heart-cheering subst

F14.1 ABDUCTION OF PERSEPHONE

T16.6 RETU PERSEPH

RAPE OF PERSEPHONE (DIO

Diodorus Siculus, Library of Hi (trans. Oldfather) (Greek histo "The Sikeliotai who dwell in th received the tradition from the having ever been handed down earliest time by one generation island is sacred to Demeter an although there are certain poe that at the marriage of Plouton Persephone Zeus gave this isla to the bride . . . The fact that the Rape of Kore men say, proof most evident t this island their favourite retre cherished by them before all o Kore, the myth relates, took p the territory of Enna. The spot of striking beauty for its violet flower and worthy of the godd that, because of the sweet odo there, trained hunting dogs are because their natural sense of meadow we have mentioned is well watered throughout, but o high and falls off with precipito And it is conceived of as lying island, which is the reason why navel of Sikelia. Near to it also surrounded by marshy flats, an contains a chasm which leads opens to the north, and throug Plouton, coming out with his ch

of Kore. And the violets, we ar flowers which supply the swee bloom, to ones amazement, th and so the whole aspect of the and delight. And both Athene and Artemis, who had made the same choic Kore and were reared together in gathering the flowers, and a the robe for their father Zeus. they had spent together and th loved this island above any oth received for her portion a terri hers in the region of Himera . the gods the island of Syrakou goddesses whom we have men received as her portion the me but a great fountain was made territory of Syrakousa and give `Azure Font. For the myth rela Syrakousa that Plouton effecte took her away in his chariot, a earth asunder he himself desce along with him the bride whom he caused the fountain named which the Syrakousans each y gathering; and private individu victims, but when the ceremon community, bulls are plunged of sacrifice having been comm occasion when he made the cir driving off the cattle of Geryon After the Rape of Kore, the my Demeter, being unable to find torches in the craters of Mt Ait of the inhabited world . . . The since by reason of the intimate Demeter and Kore with them t share in the corn after its disco on of the goddesses sacrifices . That the Rape of Kore took pla described is attested by many poets. Karkinos the tragic poet visited Syrakousa and witnesse inhabitants displayed in the sa gatherings for both Demeter a verses in his writings: Demete none may name, by secret sch men say, stole, and then he dr depths, whose light is darknes vanished girl her mother searc

in turn. And Sikelias land by A with streams of fire which no m groaned throughout its length; now the folk, beloved of Zeus, the corn. Hence honour they th now."

Diodorus Siculus, Library of Hi "Now she [Demeter] discovere gave birth to her daughter Per birth of her daughter and the r [Haides], she burned all the fr because of her anger at Zeus a over her daughter. After she h however, she became reconcile Triptolemos the corn to sow, in share the gift with men everyw everything concerned with the

RAPE OF PERSEPHONE (ORP

Orphic Hymn 18 to Pluton (tra C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.) : "[Haides] with Demeters girl [ through grassy plains, drawn i loosened reins, rapt over the d you flew till Eleusinias city ros wondrous cave obscure and de secure from search you keep, wide gates display an entrance day."

Orphic Hymn 41 to Demeter : "[Demeter] widely wandering o grief, in Eleusis valleys founde Persephone thy daughter pure dismal and obscure. A sacred y earth you stray, Dysaulos [Iak the way; the holy marriage Kh relating, while oppressed with

RAPE OF PERSEPHONE (MIS

I) THE RAPE IN PELOPONNESE

Hesiod, Theogony 912 ff (trans epic C8th or C7th B.C.) :

"He [Zeus] came to the bed of and she bare white-armed Per carried off from her mother; b him."

Pausanias, Description of Gree (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) "At Eleusis flows a Kephisos Ri it is the place they call Erineus [Haides] descended there to th carrying off Kore [Persephone]

Pausanias, Description of Gree "[At Lerna in Argolis] cross the the river Kheimarros (Winter-t of stones, and they say that Pl carrying off, according to the s the daughter of Demeter, desc kingdom underground."

Pausanias, Description of Gree "At the foot of the hill [Olympi sanctuary of Demeter surname opinion that the name is old, s earth gaped (khanein) for the then closed up (mysai) once m old images of Kore (the Maid) of Pentelic marble were dedica

Pausanias, Description of Gree "[Pamphos, author of the Hom says that Kore [Persephone], t was carried off when she was p flowers, and that the flowers b into being carried off were not narcissus." II) THE RAPE IN KRETE

Bacchylides Fragment 47 (from Theogony) (trans. Campbell, V lyric C5th B.C.) : "Some say that it was from Sik carried off, but Bakkhylides sa III) THE RAPE IN SICILY

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautic (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) : "Lovely Terpsikhore, one of the [the Seirenes] to Akheloos, an

been handmaids to Demeters [Persephone], before she was in chorus. But now, half human they spent their time watching that overlooked their excellent

Strabo, Geography 6. 1 . 5 (tra geographer C1st B.C. to C1st A "Because the country round ab Southern Italia] has luxuriant flowers, people have believed used to come hither from Sike flowers."

Oppian, Halieutica 3. 485 (tran A.D.) : "Mint, men say, was once a m Nymphe of Kokytos, and she la [Haides]; but when he raped t the Aitnaian hill [Mount Aitna i complained loudly with overwe foolishly for jealousy, and Dem upon her with her feet and des said that she was nobler of for beauty than dark-eyed Persep that Aidoneus would return to from his halls: such infatuation And from the earth sprang the name." IV) MISCELLANY

Euphorion of Chalcis, Fragmen Select Papyri III, No. 121 (2a) "On the Akheron may he bear Askalaphos, which Demeter in his limbs, because he alone bo Phersephone."

Sources:
o o o o o o

Hesiod, Theogony - Gree The Homeric Hymns - G Greek Lyric IV Bacchylid

C5th B.C.

Apollodorus, The Librar Apollonius Rhodius, The

C3rd B.C. C3rd B.C.

Greek Papyri III Euphor

o o o o o

Diodorus Siculus, The L

History C1st B.C.

Strabo, Geography - Gre Pausanias, Guide to Gre

A.D.

The Orphic Hymns - Gree Oppian, Halieutica - Gree

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