Persephone

Persephone is known as the goddess of the underworld in Greek mythology.  As a young maiden, she captured the attention of Hades, god of the underworld, with her innocence and beauty.  One day, as she picked wildflowers, the earth opened up and Hades emerged kidnapping her and taking her to the underworld to be his queen.

Demeter, Persephone's mother, was heartbroken at the loss of her daughter and wept bitterly.  While Persephone missed her mother deeply, she came to love Hades and enjoy her reign as queen of the underworld, leaving her feeling torn. 

To appease her mother's sorrow, Hades allowed Persephone to leave the underworld and live with her mother for part of the year, with the agreement that she would live with him for the rest of the year.  He gave her a pomegranate which symbolized her return to him.  For this reason, Persephone is also associated with the changing of seasons, and is thought to represent the arrival of spring.

Note From Jessica:  "I've portrayed Persephone with narcissus wild flowers in her hair, similar to what she was picking when Hades first captured her.  She also holds her symbolic pomegranate in her hand.  I've sought to portray her beauty and innocence, while adding a hint of danger in her gaze.  Afterall, it takes more than a hint of danger to reign as the queen of the underworld."

For the discriminating collector, we present this image in our brilliant Giclee format!