In Greek mythology, Persephone was the daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest, and Zeus, highest of all deity. Legend has it that Persephone was so beautiful everyone wanted to marry her. One day she was out gathering flowers when the ground opened up and Hades, god of the underworld, abducted her. Only the all-seeing Zeus and the god Helios saw what happened.

Demeter was destraught and wandered the earth looking for Persephone until Helios told her what had happened. She became so angry that she withdrew from the earth and nothing would grow without her. Knowing this could not continue, Zeus sent his son Hermes down to reason with Hades and bring Persephone back. Hades finally agreed, but gave Persephone a pomegranate. When Persephone started to eat the pomegranate, she realised too late that it would bind her to Hades forever. The seeds that she had already consumed marked the number of months she must spend each year in the underworld with Hades.