Have you heard the story of Persephone and Hades? Here is an excerpt from my book to introduce the myth.

..With Persephone leading the world into full bloom, she blissfully gathered wildflowers with the deep-bosomed daughters of Oceanos. Grim Hades caused the cosmic flower to appear in front of the blossoming child: “A thing of awe whether for deathless gods or mortal men to see: from its roots grew a hundred blooms and it smelled most sweetly, so that all wide heaven above and the whole earth and the sea’s salt swell laughed for joy.”19

Persephone, naturally, stooped to pick it, and immediately the ground split open beneath her and the Host of Many, Hades, appeared riding in his royal chariot. Against her will, he grabbed the wailing girl and in his golden chariot carried her down from a life of beauty. A nearby swineherd and his pigs were inadvertently swallowed too. (Henceforth, sacrificing pigs into chasms was an important part of Demeter’s mysteries).

For ten days golden-haired Demeter frantically searched for her lost daughter. Each night, Hekate carried a torch as the search continued. Hope charmed her mind, despite her grief. None of the gods could bear to tell her the truth, and none of the birds of omen came to her as trusted messenger. Finally rich-haired Demeter and Hekate, who had heard Persephone’s cries, gave up the search. Together the goddesses went to the all-seeing sun, Helios. Helios told them that it had been dark-haired Hades, not an unseemly bridegroom, who had abducted Persephone and that Demeter should be pleased for her daughter, for she was now a queen. Instead Demeter sank further into despair…