Proserpina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Proserpina |
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| Goddess of fertility, wine, agriculture | |
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| Symbol | pomegranate |
| Temples | Aventine Hill (with Liber and Ceres) |
| Festivals | Liberalia |
| Personal information | |
| Consort | Liber, Dis Pater (various traditions) |
| Parents | Ceres |
| Siblings | Liber (various traditions) |
| Greek equivalent | Persephone, Ariadne |
| Roman equivalent | Libera |
Proserpina is a powerful goddess in Roman mythology. She is known as the goddess of Spring and the queen of the Underworld. Proserpina was married to Dis Pater, who was the Roman king of the Underworld.
In Greek mythology, there was a goddess similar to Proserpina named Persephone. The name "Proserpina" likely comes from the Latin word "proserpere." This word means "to emerge" or "to come out." Proserpina was the daughter of Ceres and Jupiter. She took the place of, or was combined with, an older Roman goddess of fertility called Libera. Proserpina, Libera, and the wine god Liber were all worshipped at a special temple on the Aventine Hill. This temple was dedicated to the grain-goddess Ceres.
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Myths of Proserpina
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The most famous story about Proserpina tells of her being taken by the King of the Underworld. This king is known by different names, such as Dis or Pluto in Roman stories. In Greek stories, he is called Hades or Pluto.
Proserpina and the Seasons
Proserpina's mother, Ceres, was very sad when her daughter disappeared. Ceres searched for Proserpina all over the world. As Ceres walked, the sun would set, and darkness would fall. Crops stopped growing, and the land became like a desert with every step she took.
To help, Jupiter sent Mercury to tell Dis to let Proserpina go. But Proserpina had softened Dis's heart. She ate some pomegranate seeds that he offered her. In ancient myths, if you ate the food of the dead, you could not return to the world of the living. Pluto said that because she willingly ate the seeds, she had to stay with him for half of the year.
The poet Virgil wrote that Proserpina agreed to this. She was even a little bit unwilling to leave the Underworld and go back to her mother. When Ceres finally saw her daughter return to the living world, the crops began to grow again. Flowers blossomed, and in summer, all plants grew strong. They were then ready to be harvested in Autumn. During the time Proserpina lived with Pluto in the Underworld, the world experienced winter. This was when the earth did not produce any crops. The earth could only be fertile and grow food when Proserpina was above ground.
Orpheus and Eurydice
Another important myth involving Proserpina is the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus's beloved wife, Eurydice, died from a snake bite. Proserpina allowed Orpheus to enter Hades, the Underworld, without dying himself. She was charmed by his beautiful music.
Because of his music, Proserpina let Orpheus lead his wife back to the land of the living. However, there was one rule: he could not look back during their journey. But Orpheus could not resist looking back at Eurydice. Because he broke the rule, Eurydice was lost to him forever.
Images for kids
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Votive pillar reading Diti Patri et Proserpin[ae] sacrum, meaning "Holy to Dīs Pater and Proserpina". This shows Dīs Pater as Proserpina's husband.
See also
In Spanish: Proserpina para niños
