Origin of the seasons

In Greek mythology, the story of how the seasons began is connected to Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, the goddess of harvest and agriculture. Persephone was a beautiful young goddess who loved to play in the fields and pick flowers. One day, as she was gathering flowers, Hades, the god of the underworld, saw her and fell in love. He decided to take her as his queen. Suddenly, the earth opened up, and Hades emerged in his chariot. He grabbed Persephone and took her to his dark kingdom beneath the earth.

When Demeter realized her daughter was missing, she was heartbroken. She searched everywhere, but no one could tell her where Persephone had gone. Finally, Helios, the sun god, who sees everything, told her that Hades had taken Persephone with Zeus’s permission.

Angry and grief-stricken, Demeter left Mount Olympus and wandered the earth in disguise. She refused to let crops grow, causing a terrible famine. People suffered, and the gods became worried because humans could no longer offer them food or sacrifices.

Seeing the suffering on earth, Zeus sent Hermes, the messenger god, to the underworld to bring Persephone back. Hades agreed but tricked Persephone into eating six pomegranate seeds before leaving. In Greek mythology, anyone who eats food from the underworld must stay there.

Since Persephone had eaten the pomegranate seeds, she could not leave the underworld forever. A compromise was made that Persephone would spend six months of the year with her mother, Demeter.

For the other six months, she would return to the underworld with Hades.

When Persephone is with Demeter, the earth is warm and full of life—this is spring and summer. When Persephone goes back to the underworld, Demeter grieves, and the earth becomes cold and barren—this is autumn and winter.

This myth explains why the seasons change. It also represents themes of life, death, and rebirth, showing how nature goes through cycles of growth and rest.That is the story of how seasons were brought about.