ANALYZING THE STORY: PART 3 THE ASCENT (PERSEPHONE RETURNED)

Demeter and Persephone made at Myrina, 
north-west Asia Minor c. 100 BC

Persephone continued to tell her mother everything that happened

"In this way did the two of them spend the whole day, having a like-minded thûmos,/

and they gladdened greatly each other’s heart and thûmos,/ hugging each other, and their thûmos ceased having akhos./ They received joy from each other, and gave it./ Then Hekatê approached them, the one with the splendid headband./ And she welcomed back the daughter of holy Demeter with many embraces."

 So, I have used this image before, but I don't think I have found another depiction of any kind that captures the tenderness and connection between Demeter and Persephone as this one does.

Pinax of Persephone and Hades from Locri.
Reggio Calabria, National Museum of Magna Graecia

Zeus then sent for Demeter to come to dwell among the other gods and goddess again.  He granted that Persephone would spend two thirds of the year with her mother and one third of the year with Hades.  The hymn says that Demeter did not argue and agreed to these terms.

It is because of this agreement that the ancient Greeks believed their seasons changed.  It is during the spring, summer and fall that Persephone is with her mother and they both are happy.  It is during the winter in which they are separated and grieving the absence of one another and nothing grows. 






Homeric Hymn to Demeter Translated by Gregory Nagy 
http://www.uh.edu/~cldue/texts/demeter.html