1. The story of Proserpina and Pluto
By Charles Murphy

2. Roman Mythology
Most of what exists in Roman Mythology exists in Greek Mythology. Some of the major Roman gods are Apollo, Ceres, Diana, Pluto, Juno, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Minerva, and Neptune.

3. Roman Mythology Stories
The ancient Romans used mythology as a combination of religion and stories and fables. These stories weren't necessarily regarded as fact, but more as stories with messages to live by. Many Roman myths are just Greek myths changed over time.

4. Proserpina and Pluto
Proserpina was walking through a field of wildflowers, when she stooped down to grab a narcissus flower. Pluto had been watching Proserpina for some time because he had been admiring her growing beauty, and he wanted to make her his queen because he was lonely in the underworld.

5. Proserpina and Pluto
So as Proserpina was walking through the flower field Pluto swooped up from the Underworld abducted her. Proserpina’s mother, the goddess Ceres, heard her screams and began searching for her.
Ceres felt Zeus had betrayed their daughter, so she showed her outrage by withholding her blessing from the earth until Proserpina was returned to her. Droughts started to take place and the earth was barren. Mankind was facing a major famine.

6. Proserpina and Pluto
Jupiter finally had enough and sent Mercury, the messenger god to bring Proserpina back to her mother. Proserpina was offered a pomegranate by Pluto, and by eating in the underworld it meant she wouldn’t be allowed to leave. She knew this, but she grew fond of Hades and didn’t want to leave entirely so she ate 7 seeds of the fruit.

7. Proserpina and Pluto
Hermes managed to come to an agreement between Hades and Proserpina. The agreement was that Proserpina was to stay with Pluto for four months out of each year (winter) and would return to the earth and her mother the remaining months. Proserpina was soon happily reunited with her mother.

8. Proserpina and Pluto
Every year Proserpina’s mother Ceres would grieve for the temporary loss of her daughter, which brought cold and dry winters. But once Proserpina was returned, Ceres was filled with joy and happiness so flowers started to bloom and the sun shone, marking spring. That’s how the changing seasons were created.

9. What do you remember?
What season did Proserpina have to stay in Hades?
Answer:
Winter
What flower did Proserpina pick up in the field?
Answer:
Narcissus flower
What type of fruit did Hades offer Proserpina?
Answer:
Pomegranate