#HadesXPersephone

[bookhoarding]

Hades x Persephone Books

Fine. I got too invested in Lore Olympus. Yes, I know I am way late on that bandwagon but I feel I need to share my findings for others in need. Because once I inhaled the series I needed more. Here’s some of the *ahem* research into this shit and various adaptations of the HadesxPersephone pairing. Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe – I started with the printed volumes and then transitioned to the…

[jartist5647]

Happy Valentine’s Day! 💖💖💖💖💖💖 Here is our happily engaged couple that I am currently working on! Leave an emoji in the comments below for how you felt after this last episode of Lore Olympus! - - - #loreolympusfanart #loreolympus #fanart #engaged #engagement #hades #persephone #hadesxpersephone #hadesloreolympus #persephoneandhades #persephoneloreolympus #foryoupage #fyp #explore #explorepage #happiness #gods #procreate #lineart #wip #workinprogress https://www.instagram.com/p/Copq52qutLE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[huntquinlan]

what if i said lucien and elain were giving odin/odr and frigg/freyja. what then.

[azi-sings-calliope]

People say they want more angry female characters and you can't even handle Demeter

[eventideintrigue]

second reblog for this tags

nothing wrong with preferring healthy relationships but it really is astounding to me how often i'll go into the tags for The Unhealthy Relationships Show and see people posting "but what if the relationships were healthy though"

[aroiteroi]

🌿Pomegranate🌿

An HadesxPersephone reference? YAASS✨

Repost August 2023 ☕Support my art by donating in my Ko-fi

[angelxd-3303]

Ok, it's finally done!

Here's some close-ups:

Firstly, MafiaXFlower Shop. At first I was gonna make Luigi our flower enthusiast, but I decided to switch things up a bit. Bowser definitely has his hands full once a mob boss sets his pretty eyes on him!

Next, SelkieXPirate. Luigi may be a tiny little thing, but he certainly doesn't seem afraid of the baddest Captain in the seas!

Then we have the classic High School au. This is how I picture the couple in the fic Summertime Sadness, being written by myself and @yaoipigglet .Pining idiots.

Ah, yes, the childhood friends trope. By far one of my favorites. Children have a way of seeing beyond physical differences.

Ahh! My favorite so far! I love Luigi's expression here! Tangled is definitely one of my favorite Disney movies. Rapunzel's dress suits out green bean quite well, don't you think?

And here we have Labyrinth. I honestly haven't watched this movie since I was a kid, I forgot how interesting it was. I tried to make Bowser look more menacing, and almost goblin-like. Poor Lu, he just wants his bro back.

Another classic, species swap! Peach is glad her partner in plumbing has found someone, she just didn't expect it to be a doe-eyed dragon thing!

Lastly, not that was requested awhile ago, HadesXPersephone. I wanted Luigi's dress to be airy and flowing, like ancient Grecian clothing. I know I could have modeled Bowser after Dry Bones, but I wanted the skull to make sense with my design. That, and the fire in place of hair looks pretty cool.

Thanks again for the help, I had so much fun making this!

[sasuhinamonth]

Beginnings and Ends - SasuHina Recs

It's the 21st! That means it's fic writer appreciation day!

In celebration, I'd like to share some SH recs, but in a fun way!!! I'll be posting the first and last line of the fic, along with name, author, and brief description as to why I'm rec-ing it!

Good work, writers!

p.s. - Most of the links will be to FFNet, but if you see purple text, that means it's posted on AO3 as well~ I'm just doing this to save a little time on my end, but I understand some prefer reading on AO3!

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

A Miracle by Eleanor Rigby 000

"A field trip!?" The class repeated. After that, several voices chirped, each of them commenting on how psyched they are for the class field trip.

"Forever," she assured

This is a angsty, passionate story of hurt, comfort, love, and meeting an old love. The story is Modern AU where Sasuke's a model and comes back to visit his childhood town, where he meets Hinata. Honestly, this is the first and only fic that has made me actively cry, and I cannot praise it enough! Please check it out!!!

~-~-~

Okaeri by The Penumbra

She felt his fist connect with her stomach and went crashing down to the ground, barely having time to register what was happening.

"Okaeri, Sasuke. Welcome home."

This is sort of a prequel to the author's other fic "Snapshots: Black and White", which is also a stellar fic. It's set in canonverse, where Sasuke and Hinata slowly develop a friendship/relationship. You'll get your fair amount of angst, but really, you can hardly avoid such things in SH fics xD.

~-~-~

Ichinen by Cinderella Starsend

Hyuuga Hinata stifled a yawn as she stepped out of the door and shut it behind her.

"And I love you."

I LOVE this fic! It's split into 12 chapters, each corresponding with a month. Hinata works at Ichiraku's in an attempt to get closer to Naruto, but she bonds with Sasuke more. I really enjoy fics set in the narutoverse that change things like this, mixing around dynamics so it's not always ninja stuff and war and training. It's a cute story, and the author's prose is beautiful!

~-~-~

Neji Hyuuga: Matchmaker by emilyjm

Hyuuga Neji prided himself on seeing things other people never noticed.

Mission: matchmaker must be completed within five years.. Good luck, Neji!

UGHHHHH! Where do I start????? It's set in narutoverse where Neji's not only alive, but in charge of matchmaking everyone in Konoha so that he can get Sasuke and Hinata together. It's incredible sweet and incredibly moving and incredibly moving, and I love SH fics with a heavy focus on Neji. Please read it, and please read Another Story (sequel) which is JUST as good!!!

~-~-~

When Will I Lose You by @elreinodelpurgatorio

Hinata, Lady of the Underworld, stands in her peach orchard and watches the Doom God and the Messenger God speak to each other.

One of these days, Sasuke, seated on a throne next to Hinata, is the one to look at a wretched soul and say: "Request denied."

This is a really fun HadesxPersephone AU where Hinata is Hades and Sasuke is Persephone! It's a short, magical read that is always a breath of fresh air! The author is really good at coming up with pretty sentences. Highly rec!

~-~-~

What's Mine To Give by WritingHyuHin

After the massacre of his clan, Sasuke had one goal in his life at that young age. Revenge.

The things I do for you... Only you.... Hinata.

This is a rewriting of The Last movie, but SasuHina style! I think it's very believable and a fun thing to read, since I've watched The Last quite a few times. Seeing things that should be Naruto but are instead replaced with Sasuke warm my little, shipper heart. Give this one a chance!

~-~-~

Nyctophilia by Sommernacht

For as long as he could remember, the night had offered him comfort.

"Indeed," he whispered against her skin. His fingers found their way under her fishnet top, making her shiver under the touch. "The most beautiful night."

Sommer hits it out of the park once again! This was their 2022 SHMonth one-shot in which Sasuke and Hinata secretly meet each other when 'borrowing' meds at night. They grow close and confide in one another, and I think it's a loving, deep connection that is impressive to make in just one chapter!

~-~-~

A Study of Mannerisms and Other Alterations by MissLe

Sasuke Uchiha, as it was well known, was in possession of some very, very gorgeous eyes.

She decided, however, that the regal Uchiha nose would always hold a special place in her heart.

Ahhhh, this is probably one of my all time favorite fics! It's fluffy, it's cute, it's funny! I absolutely adore it! This fic is set in a Modern AU, where Hinata is a waitress at a cafe and Sasuke, a member of the firefighter team that comes by almost daily, has a pretty obvious crush on her. These two dweebs are adorable, and I read this fic so much!!!

~-~-~

Uprooted by @kiljoius

Today, Hinata is 20.

“Maybe I can live with that.” Maybe she can, too, she thinks.

Arranged Marriage? Check. Fluff and Humor in a SH FIC of all things???? Check. Witty dialogue and amazing chemistry? Check check check! Without giving too many spoilers, this Modern AU fic follows Hinata and Sasuke, who plan to act 'over the top' in their arranged relationship in order to get out of it. Lets just say it doesn't work as planned for them huhu. This is a really fun fic, so if you're in the mood, give it a read!

~-~-~

This is what I've got for now, but please feel free to comment or reblog with your own favorite fics (either your own or others) with their first and last lines.

@kiljoius @elreinodelpurgatorio @daifukumochiin @catruru @fher43 @gardenatsuntime @lavendereyedassassin @cariata @naoko-ichigo @lavender-long-stories @p-crowds @queenfox352 - You guys, too! Show off fics you like (or your own)!

Good work to all authors/writers out there! We love you!!!

Mod: PC

[nanyagos]

Deal

Second part of The Abduction of Lucerys based on HadesxPersephone 💞 (first try on a comic hehe)

[roleplayfinder]

Heya! 21 F semi-lit writer here looking to find someone to roleplay Hades/Persephone with me from the musical Hadestown! I saw the musical recently and I'm just HOOKED. I'm comfortable writing as either character and open to plotting, but I'd like to do something canon-adjacent / post-canon. If you're interested, like this and I'll DM you :)) Thank you sm!

.

[zutarasbuff]

I’ve been reading this HadesxPersephone retelling where Hades fell in love with ‘Sephone first but she fell harder. Reminds me of our Zutara. Makes me wonder if someone could draw Zuko & Katara as Hades & Persephone!!! 😭 Also, the duology’s name is Heart of Hades & Queen of Night by Katherine MacDonald.

Edit: Everyone please check out this amazing Zutara art

I loved this!!!

[chaifootsteps]

For the longest time, I thought that Stolas’ outfit consisted of a red shirt tunic with brown fluffy pants with a “regal” cape and strange top hat (Viv, just pick crown or hat, it’s not that hard).

Upon reading HB critical posts, I learned that Stolas’s red shirt was actually a leotard (like a full on body suit). Now I can’t unsee it. His outfit went from barely tolerable to complete ass and I hate it lol.

Granted, Stolas in HB is awful since he SAs Blitz, cheats on Stella, neglects Via, and abuses Imps. The show would be so much better if it just leaned 100% into Stolas being the main villain or if it just rebooted Stolas with his demonology counterpart. Even with how Steven Universe worsened Rose Quartz/Pink Diamond or how Frozen turned Elsa from a villain to sympathetic character after the overplayed song "Let It Go" , the other characters were still allowed to critique Pink Diamond and Elsa without being written as irredeemable assholes. HB on the other hand, characters who even question Stolas are shown as evil and aren't allowed to be right. It reminds me of the dumpster fire that is Lore Olympus (anyone who questioned HadesXPersephone were labeled as villains like Minthe, Thanos, and Demeter. Even Apollo, who SAed Persephone makes rightful critique of the couple and makes more sense than Hades or Persephone. How does one fuck a story up that badly?)

Baby gets to wear a big baby onesie like the abusive crybaby bitch he is.

[rebelscumlena]

When Death Calls

Pairing: Barbie x J Robert Oppenheimer; Barbenheimer

Word Count: 2.6K

Summary: Who better to be her partner for the rest of eternity than the man about to set the world on fire? 

A/N: My fingers slipped.. multiple times.. whoops.. This was written before seeing either movie, so as of now it doesn’t follow the plot for either movie so no actual spoilers. This was honestly just a plot bunny that burrowed way too deep for myself and @javier-djarin​. Specifically some musings on what if Barbenheimer had some HadesxPersephone vibes. Slight warning for some dark humour.. I couldn’t help myself and I blame it on the existentialism. Enjoy!

P.S. if you like this kind of writing, check out @javier-djarin​ for some bomb-ass fics (pun absolutely intended). She’s the real mastermind behind the genius <3

Nights in the desert were supposed to be cold, Robert thought to himself. Even in the middle of summer, it should've been cooler hours after the sun had set. Yet he found himself wiping sweat from his brow every few minutes. It probably didn't help that the bunker he was in was occupied by about five other men, the combined nervous energy adding to the stuffiness of the close quarters.

"We're ready for countdown when you are, Oppenheimer," someone stated, bringing Robert's attention away from his musings.

"Goggles on, gentlemen. Start countdown," Robert responded. Immediately, a siren rang out to alert everyone outside of the bunker that the countdown was beginning. Robert and the other men in the bunker slipped on their goggles, manning their stations. Robert was the only one at the window, waiting with anticipation to see if this test would be the winner.

Another young gentleman began counting out loud. With each descending number, Robert felt the hairs on his body stand on edge. This was it.

The countdown finished. The pulley some hundreds of yards away from them released the test bomb. And within a matter of seconds, it hit the ground.

The light of the explosion danced in front of Robert's eyes. Even with the distance, Robert could make out the brightness of the fireball that alerted everyone that the bomb had been detonated. He watched in fascination as a shape slowly formed, the pressure starting to push up and resemble a mushroom head. Robert nearly found himself saying how beautiful it was. Meanwhile, a knot in his stomach reminded him the cost of creating something like this. Was this how God felt when he was creating humans?

Time seemed to standstill as Robert lived in this moment, before he would have to hear the test results and determine if another bomb needed to be made or if they had done the unthinkable. He eventually closed his eyes to ease his retinas of the bright light the bomb had given off, and take a moment to compose himself.

"I never thought I'd see the day," came a feminine voice from behind him.

Robert's eyes snapped open and he spun, finding a seventh occupant tucked in at the back of the bunker. From the voice and legs, he could tell it was a woman. She was dressed in a duster jacket with a wide brim hat covering her face. Robert removed his goggles, hoping he'd get a better look at this intruder. The duster jacket was a beige colour, while underneath he noticed her dress was a bright pink. And despite still not having the best look at her face, he could see some blonde hair falling around her shoulders.

"You're not allowed to be here," Robert warned, looking to anyone else to gauge their reactions. Yet he noticed that everyone else in the bunker was frozen, still as statues.

"I'm allowed to be anywhere, hence the job," the woman retorted, removing herself from the wall to walk forward. Her pink heels matched the dress she was wearing, and as she stepped into the light, Robert could make out pink lipstick that was formed in a friendly smile.

"You're unauthorized personnel. You need to leave," Robert tried again, his brain working a mile a second trying to figure out who she was and how she got into the bunker undetected.

"But I want to see it for myself," the woman responded, finally getting close enough to him. Robert readied himself, wondering what her next move would be. Would she attack? Did she just want to talk? None of the above, Robert found out. Instead, she bypassed him to peer out the window.

"Your eyes-"

"My eyes are fine. I've seen worse," she replied wistfully.

Robert took another glance at the men around him, still finding them frozen in their various positions. Was this a game? His gaze then moved to the woman, still looking out the window. She certainly wasn't apart of the science team; he would've remembered if they had hired a woman like her. She couldn't be a journalist; no way a journalist would be able to get past all of their security. So perhaps she was part of the government? But not in those heels...

"Who are you? And who do you work for?" Robert whispered.

The woman finally turned to him, that friendly smile returning. It was neither menacing nor innocent, but knowing.

"I'm Barbie," she stated, holding her hand out to him. Robert hesitated before reaching forward to grasp her hand. It was cool, and he found himself letting out a small breath of contentment at feeling something that wasn't the sweltering heat surrounding him.

"As for your second question, honestly it's such a long story and we don't have the time. But just know that I've been watching your for some time, and with the success of this," she said, waving a hand towards the window, "I think I'm right in picking you as my partner."

"Partner?" Robert had to laugh. Who was this lady? And then he paused. "Wait, success? How do you know the bomb is a success?"

Barbie gave him that smile again, "You just know these things after a while. But yes, I've been doing this job by myself for some time. And it gets awful lonely, so I've been considering a partner. And you're it."

"What job?"

"Being Death."

Robert was stunned silent, his brain doing everything in it's power to process everything this woman was saying. It had to be a joke. And yet taking another look around the bunker and the fact alone of this Barbie woman standing in front of him, he told himself this was no joke.

"You want me to help you be Death?"

"Nobody better for the job than the man who's about to set the world on fire," Barbie stated matter-of-factly, beginning to walk past him.

Robert was quick, reaching out to grip her bicep and stop her. Blue met blue as they stared at each other, one with coolness and curiosity while the other held fear and disbelief.

"What do you mean 'set the world on fire'?" Robert hissed through gritted teeth. "One country doesn't constitute the whole world."

Barbie just smiled, placing a gentle hand over top of his, her pink nail polish looking so out of place and yet giving him some form of comfort. "You don't build a weapon like that bomb out there, and expect it to be used once. Your little experiment has consequences, one that will resonate throughout history."

"You can't know that," Robert scoffed in disbelief. "We're trying to end a war! We have no other choice!"

"You humans," Barbie giggled, slowly peeling his fingers away from her. When she was free, she squeezed his hand. "Don't think too much about this. I'll come back when the time is right, and you'll give me your answer then. But until then, try to enjoy life."

Robert was left watching as Barbie started to walk away, her heels sounding so loud in the quiet bunker. She walked towards the back wall, and slowly disappeared into the shadows. Robert continued to stare before being acutely aware of movement and sound. He glanced around to see that the men were moving once again, working on their machines. He turned to look back out the window, seeing the fireball had dissipated.

"Success," whispered one man. Everyone turned to him, and the young man looked to all his colleagues with wide, unbelieving eyes. "Success."

💅😎✨🔥

Robert had never been this content in all his life. He was seated at a bench that he usually occupied while he was a student at Harvard, cigarette in hand. It was right outside of the science building, and had a nice view of the campus. He would come to relax after a long lecture, sometimes work on homework or sometimes just take a moment to himself. But he never remembered being this content anytime he was sat on the bench. Something always seemed to be occupying his mind. But not today...

The sound of heels caught his attention, and he turned to see a woman dressed in a pink gingham dress, pink heels, and her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. She had a warm smile on her face, and a familiar knowing look in her eyes.

"Barbie," Robert breathed.

"May I join you?" she asked, nodding to the bench. He nodded, scooting over so she could sit down next to him. Their eyes met once more, blue clashing with blue.

"So, is the time finally right?" Robert asked.

"Just about, though we're cutting it real close," Barbie responded, adjusting herself so she could see Robert properly. "Did the rest of your life turn out to be enjoyable?"

Robert chuckled, turning away from Barbie to look back out at the campus. "It's complicated."

"Humans," Barbie chuckled.

Robert turned back to her, mirroring her position so he could take her in. "Were you ever human once?"

Barbie hummed, playing with the skirt of her dress. "Not exactly. But I've had some human experiences, as weird as that sounds."

"Extremely weird," he joked with her, earning a chuckle.

"It's another long story, which we can definitely unpack depending on your answer," Barbie said, giving Robert a hopeful look.

Robert took a drag from his cigarette, blowing the smoke away from the blonde as he took a second to think. "Am I dead?"

"Not yet. You're in a coma, which would explain this," Barbie stated, gesturing to the scene around them. "Your subconscious took you somewhere comforting, which I get. This place is peaceful."

Robert hummed in agreement. "You said back in New Mexico that there was no one better for the job than the man who was going to set the world on fire. So is Death just a job for murderers?"

"No," Barbie replied, brushing a leaf off the brim of Robert's hat. "Our job is all about maintaining a balance. Nobody can live forever, that's just not how the world works. Everyone dies one day, so we just make sure that happens. Whether it's by natural causes after a life well-lived, by a complete accident, or even by man's hubris."

"Like a war," Robert supplied, to which Barbie nodded.

"I picked you because you understand the implications of death. You understand how this all works. It's not glamourous, but it needs to be done. The universe requires balance, and we provide that. We have no choice."

Robert smirked, recalling the time when he tried to justify himself by yelling the same thing to her so long ago.

"Touché. So how did someone like you get the job?"

Barbie fixed him with a wistful smile. "It's part of that long story of mine. Any other questions?"

Robert paused, looking up to the sky before meeting her eyes once more. "So then which religion got it right? Where do people go when they die?"

This got Barbie to laugh, pushing his shoulder in a playful way. "You're gonna fit right in."

"I haven't agreed to the job, though," Robert reminded her, putting out his cigarette.

"Yes you have, Mr. Oppenheimer," Barbie countered, standing up and brushing off her dress. She then turned to face Robert, hands on her hips as she fixed him with a megawatt smile. "You thought about my offer every day of your life. You decided years ago that when I came back, you would say yes."

Robert returned her smile with a more reserved one, adjusting his hat as he stood. "So I'm assuming omniscience is a perk to the job?"

"After a year of good behaviour," Barbie joked, reaching up to adjust his tie. Blue met blue once more. "But I do actually need you to verbally agree to this."

Robert paused, staring deep into Barbie's eyes before he spoke. "I accept."

Not a moment later, the aging and cancer riddled body of J Robert Oppenheimer took one last breath before going still, and slowly growing cold.

💅😎✨🔥

Nova Scotia was balmy during the summer. Robert had never been up to Nova Scotia when he was alive, but found it was a pleasant place. He stood on a sidewalk looking out into St. John's Harbour and further away the Atlantic, slowly savouring a cigarette. It was certainly better than being stuck in a bunker in the middle of summer in the New Mexico desert.

"I found coffee," came an excited voice from behind him. He turned to see Barbie dressed in a light pink jumpsuit, looking both stylish and comfortable. Meanwhile, Robert was still sporting his suit, tie, and hat. Barbie had mentioned she could help him update his style if he wanted, but then would tell him he looked dashing just as he was. A vintage man, she had said. It caused Robert to blush, and so he stuck with his trademark look.

"That stuff's addicting," Robert stated, eyeing the iced coffee that Barbie eagerly took a gulp from.

"Says the man who died from throat cancer," she retorted, taking the cigarette and flicking it down onto the asphalt before stubbing it out with her sandal.

Robert chuckled before looking back out to the water.

"They're well into their descent," Barbie said, checking a watch on her wrist. "We've got a little time."

"Man's hubris," Robert murmured.

"Indeed, Mr. Oppenheimer," Barbie responded, taking another sip of her iced coffee before holding it out to Robert. He took the drink, taking a sip for himself. He could see why Barbie liked these drinks so much.

He wordlessly handed the drink back to her, not missing the shit eating grin she had on her face at knowing he enjoyed the drink. He also didn't miss the little electric feeling he got when their fingers brushed in passing the cup, the same feeling he got every time they made contact.

It was odd being partners with someone like Barbie. She was nothing like Kitty or any of the other women he had known in passing. Then again, Barbie was completely unique and one of a kind. She was constantly bubbly and cheerful, but if Robert caught her eye at the right time, he sometimes found an emptiness. It was very rare, but Robert knew it was there. And he only knew because Barbie had once said she saw the same look in his eyes at times.

I guess being Death does that to a person, he had mused to himself so long ago.

But they still maintained their individuality. Barbie with her colourful outfits and cheery disposition, and Robert with his beige suit and melancholy look. They were day and night, and yet they had a bond that was unbreakable. Sharing looks, touches, whispers, and mannerisms that no living soul would ever know. He never thought he'd get used to any of it. Yet Barbie had managed to find her way deep into every part of his being. He'd set the world on fire for her if she asked, and that knowledge made Robert extremely content.

He was shaken from his thoughts when he felt Barbie slip her arm around his, and he looked to see her eyes gazing deep into his. After a moment, she gave him a smile before moving in to plant a kiss on the corner of his lips. "We should get going," she murmured.

Robert nodded, returning her smile. He then looked to see the coffee cup in her hand had been crushed, the plastic crevices showing deep white marks from the pressure that had been inflicted on it as coffee dripped off her manicured hand.

"Let's go, Barbie," he replied before leading her forward and into the ocean.

[heidihastings]

"Would you love me even if I was wicked?"

Hades and Persephone the Golden Blade available on Amazon

After six long months, Persephone returns to the Underworld to reunite with the God of the Dead, Hades.

But the kingdom she knew has changed, and dark secrets cast uncertainty over their love. As a sinister plot unfolds, Hades and Persephone are thrust into a des: perate race against time. The answers they seek are shrouded in shadow, and a war for all souls looms on the horizon. As the final battle between good and evil draws near, the King and Queen of the Underworld teeter on the brink of losing everything. Will they triumph over the impending chaos, or will evil unravel their world?

#hadesandpersephone #hades #persephone #persefone #hadesxpersephone #hxp #thegoldenblade

[0lympian-c0uncil]

If HadesxPersephone retellings have 100 haters I am one of them

If HadesxPersephone retellings have 1 hater that is me

If the world loves HadesxPersephone retellings, I am against the world

If HadesxPersephone retellings has not haters I am no longer here

This is me...... This is literally me.

The only times I will not hate a Hades x Persephone retelling is if Demeter is not the villain.

and even then it will still be hard

[loose-and-goose]

Porque No Los Dos?

Musings on Persephone and Her Girlbossification for Classicstober2023

I think I first learned about the Homeric Hymn to Demeter in elementary school, but even then, it was all about Persephone and Hades.

This was a fourth or fifth grade reader, so the story naturally had to be boiled down 'til the very marrow was sucked from its bones, but even then, I can't remember any mention of Demeter. Despite the myth bearing her name and largely being about her, Demeter was already removed from the narrative back in the early 2000s.

When I consider this, I feel that I can't genuinely pin the blame on current writers. After all, the Renaissance artists were more obsessed with depicting the “rape” of Persephone than the grief of her mother, so this current situation has been long in the making. But I do think that I am not mistaken to couple her subsequent transformation into a modern feminist icon with my contemporaries.

Apparently, I first took issue with this back in 2018. When I look through the archives of my blog, I see some cute HadesxPersephone art, modernizations, etc, and according to my tags I really love them. But then in 2018, I encountered a post saying:

“Hey, you know the original myth of Persephone when she was still Core/Kora and instead of being kidnapped, she willingly went down into the Underworld and decided that she liked it there/wanted to do good there? I need a copy of it.”

This post was then reblogged with an added rebuttal, clarifying that this “original myth” does not exist. Since then, I've encountered at least three other posts with thousands of notes that either outright claim that “originally”, Persephone was not kidnapped, or that actually, there are “pre-patriarchal” versions of most Greek myths, which we are purposely kept from reading in order to maintain the status quo (patriarchy).

These claims are never supplemented with any classical sources, and they always, always, have thousands of notes.

I want to preface this by saying that I don't think there's anything wrong with modernizing or retelling these myths. That's how we keep them living, keep them relevant. I still enjoy a funny rendition of Hades and Persephone that characterizes Hades as the wife-guy of all time.

No, I think my issue is with the desire to concoct a revisionist history to justify it.

I guess the question is, “So what if Persephone was kidnapped?” Regardless of how she and Hades met, the outcome is the same: Hades turns out to be a good husband who loves and respects his wife.

What I'm getting at is this: why does acknowledging Persephone's background somehow make her less respectable? Why does she have to willingly go to the underworld? Why does she have to hate her mother and run away? Why do you need this version of her story to exist, when it simply doesn't?

Persephone is a young girl. It's in her name. She is the prototype, the stereotype, she is the stand in for every young girl of her time. She represents their realities, she represents what could happen to them in a moment's notice. She embodies a very real fear for girls and maybe even more so for (let's not forget the name of the hymn again) mothers.

What am I trying to say? Let me see if I can figure it out. I don't think I'm saying anything new. I just saw that today's theme was Persephone and when I think of Persephone, this is what I always think of.

She is a goddess in her own right. Beloved by her husband. Given power by her husband. I think she is what many a young girl in ancient times hoped to become someday, whenever the seemingly unavoidable happened: A woman who was valued as an equal in her home, even in a greater world where she was not.

I think we shouldn't have to change Persephone's truth in order to find value in her. And we shouldn't have to fabricate an alternate timeline where Greece was a matriarachal society and Persephone hit her mother with the, “No mom, I'm giving up on your dream.” before sashaying a way into the underworld to justify her value.

Write what you want to write. I can't stop you, won't stop you, don't want to stop you. But as Madeline Miller's new book is on its way, I can only hope that maybe someone, someone, will find it in themselves to acknowledge that Persephone and Hades' shitty start doesn't disqualify her from being meaningful. Inasmuch as there is power in saying “actually, Persephone only did what she wanted to do”, there is also power in saying, “Persephone didn't always get to choose, but her situation did not spell out her end. It got better. Spring will come again”.