In Roman mythology, Ceres was one of Jupiter's three wives. She was also known as the Earth-Mother or the goddess of agriculture.
As the Earth-Mother, Ceres kept the entire world's population nourished throughout the year. Without Ceres, there would be no bountiful harvests. Thus, she was revered and worshiped by all. For her part, it seemed that Ceres was fully focused on nature and her work in supplying the needs of mankind. However, there was one being dearer to her than anyone else: her daughter Proserpine. Ceres loved her daughter dearly, and Proserpine returned the affection.
One day, Proserpine was picking flowers in the valley of Enna (where she and her mother lived) when she came across a strange-looking flower. Proserpine was intrigued by this flower (a narcissus) and tried to pluck it for her collection. However, try as she might, there was no dislodging the flower from its stalk....
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When Proserpina tried to pull up the entire plant, it opened up the earth.
From under the soil came a golden chariot drawn by four mighty black horses. In the chariot sat Pluto, the foreboding god of the Underworld. Proserpina became afraid, as Pluto was a terrifying figure.
In the Underworld, Pluto forcefully took her as his queen. However, grieved beyond measure at being separated from Ceres and her beautiful home above ground, Proserpine found no happiness in her new estate. She begged Pluto to let her go, but to no avail.
For a long while, Proserpine had no appetite for food. Alas, when her hunger got the better of her, she ate six pomegranate seeds.
Meanwhile, Ceres asked Jupiter for help in rescuing Proserpine. Unbeknownst to her, Proserpine's innocent meal of pomegranate seeds would consign her to the Underworld forever. Grieved beyond measure, Ceres eventually agreed to let Proserpine live six months of the year with Pluto. Proserpine would then return to earth in the spring and live with her to the end of summer.
According to this myth, this is how the earth came to have its seasons.
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