Persephone

Persephone, in Greek and Roman mythology, goddess of the underworld; the Romans called her Proserpina. The daughter of Demeter (Ceres in Roman mythology) and Zeus (Jupiter), Persephone was kidnapped by Hades (Pluto) and taken to the underworld. Demeter refused to allow anything on earth to grow until Persephone was returned; Zeus then worked out a compromise where Persephone would stay with Hades for half the year and with Demeter the other half. The Greeks and Romans used this myth to explain the seasons: when Persephone was with Hades, nothing grows (autumn and winter), and when she was with Demeter, crops flourish (spring and summer).

See also: Mythology.