What Is Hermes Relationship to Persephone?

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Persephone, the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, is one of the most well-known goddesses in Greek mythology. She is often associated with springtime, growth, and fertility.

One figure that is frequently mentioned in relation to Persephone is Hermes, the messenger of the gods. But what is Hermes’ relationship to Persephone?

Persephone’s Abduction

To understand the connection between Hermes and Persephone, we must first look at the story of her abduction. According to myth, while Persephone was picking flowers in a field one day, Hades, the god of the underworld and brother of Zeus, emerged from a fissure in the earth and kidnapped her. Demeter was distraught over her daughter’s disappearance and searched high and low for her.

It was eventually revealed that Hades had taken Persephone to be his wife and queen of the underworld. Demeter was furious and refused to let anything grow on Earth until her daughter was returned to her.

Hermes as a Messenger

This is where Hermes comes into play. As the messenger of the gods, he was tasked with delivering messages between different deities. It was his job to negotiate with Hades and convince him to release Persephone back to her mother.

In some versions of the myth, Hermes traveled down to the underworld himself to speak with Hades. In others, he relayed messages back and forth between Demeter and Hades until a compromise could be reached.

Hermes as a Guide

However, Hermes’ role in this story doesn’t end there. Once an agreement had been made for Persephone’s return to Earth for part of each year (which explains why we have seasons), Hermes acted as a guide for her journey.

As she moved between realms from Earth to the underworld and back again, Hermes was there to lead her and protect her. This is why he is often depicted as a guide or a protector in art that depicts Persephone’s journey.

Conclusion

In summary, Hermes’ relationship to Persephone is multifaceted. He acted as a messenger between Hades and Demeter, negotiating for Persephone’s release from the underworld.

He also acted as a guide and protector for Persephone during her transitions between worlds. Without Hermes’ intervention, Persephone may have never been able to return to Earth and bring growth and fertility back to the land.

So next time you see an image of Hermes guiding Persephone on her journey, remember the important role he played in Greek mythology.

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