Proserpina

Who was Proserpina?
Proserpina was the Roman goddess of the Underworld. The mythology relating to the abduction of the daughter of the goddess Ceres was taken from Greek legend. It is this story that Proserpina is most famous. Proserpina was abducted by Pluto whilst she was picking flowers. In revenge for this act Ceres cast a curse on earth causing a great famine. Ceres refused to lift the curse until she saw her daughter again. Jupiter, the king of the gods and the brother of Ceres, intervened and sent Mercury to the Underworld to ask Pluto to return Proserpina. However, Proserpina had eaten part of a pomegranate whilst she was with Pluto. The pomegranate was known as the "fruit of the dead", and anyone who ate the food of the dead had to stay in the underworld. A compromise was reached and Proserpina could only be given back to her mother for part of each year. For two-thirds of the year she was allowed to live with her mother and the remainder of the time she was obliged to stay with Pluto as queen of the Underworld. The ancients believed that when Proserpina made her yearly visits to the mortal world she brought spring with her and when the time came that she must return to Pluto the bleak winter followed. Refer to the mythical stories of Proserpine and Ceres and Proserpine.

The Return of Proserpina, accompanied by Mercury, to her mother Ceres

Facts about Proserpina
The following facts and profile provides a fast overview of Proserpina:

Proserpina Profile & Fact File
Roman Name: Proserpina
Role & Function: The function of Proserpina is described as being the goddess of the Underworld
Status: Minor Roman goddess
Symbols: Bat, the poppy, torch, white rose and the pomegranate
Alternative Names: Proserpine
Gender: Female
Greek Counterpart: The Greek name for this goddess was Persephone
Name of Husband: Pluto, king of the Underworld and the elder brother of Jupiter and Neptune
Name of Father: Jupiter
Name of Mother: Ceres

Facts about Proserpina in Roman Mythology
Discover interesting information and facts about the Roman goddess of the Underworld. The facts about Proserpina provides a list detailing fascinating additional info to increase your knowledge about Proserpine in Roman Mythology.

History and Mythical Facts about Proserpina
Fact 1 about Proserpina: She was the daughter of Jupiter and Ceres and the wife of Pluto
Fact 2 about Proserpina: Her name derives from the Latin word "proserpere" meaning "to emerge,"
Fact 3 about Proserpina: Her symbol of the pomegranate was also known as the "fruit of the dead" and anyone who ate the food of the dead had to stay in the underworld.
Fact 4 about Proserpina: A variety of pomegranate is called Proserpina
Fact 5 about Proserpina: She is represented in art as a beautiful woman, enthroned, with a sad, stern and melancholy appearance.
Fact 6 about Proserpina: Her role in the Underworld was to prepare the spirits of worthy women to enter Elysium, strewing flowers along the path she would travel
Fact 7 about Proserpina: She was the emblem of the seed corn, which lies in the earth during the winter, but sprouts in the spring, and in summer bears fruit.
Fact 8 about Proserpina: One of the most ancient and important among the festivals observed by the ancients was that of the Eleusinian Mysteries, which was celebrated in honour of Ceres and her daughter, Proserpine.
Fact 9 about Proserpina: She is often depicted as a young goddess holding sheaves of grain and a flaming torch.

Pluto abducting Proserpina

Proserpina (Greek Counterpart was Persephone)
The Romans habitually assimilated various elements from other cultures and civilisations, including the gods and goddesses that were worshipped by the Greeks and other nations. When the Roman Empire conquered the Greeks in 146BC many of the Greek gods and goddesses were adopted by the Romans. The Romans simply changed the Greek gods names to Latin equivalents. The Greek counterpart of Proserpina (or Proserpine) was Persephone. The Roman religion significantly differed from the Greeks in that it was officially endorsed by the state and exerted influence over the government of Rome. Politicians took the offices of influential priests, called pontiffs, to gain control of the popular worship, Roman gods and goddesses were worshipped at every public event, including the gladiatorial games, where blood sacrifices were made to the gods.

Proserpina and the Roman Gods Family Tree and Genealogy
The Roman gods family tree provides an instant overview of the genealogy and the family connections and relationships between the main deities, including Proserpina, who feature in the legends and mythology of the ancient Romans. The Primeval gods and deities, the Titans and the Roman Olympians.

Proserpina

• Interesting information and Facts about the Roman goddess Proserpine
• Proserpina, the Roman goddess of the Underworld
• Stories and Legends in Roman Mythology associated with Proserpine
• Facts and information about the Gods and Deities of the Ancient World for schools and kids
• Proserpine, the Roman goddess of the Underworld