Persephone, the daughter of Demeter and Zeus, is the focus of this contemplation. As the story tells, Hades, Lord of the underworld, abducted Persephone to make her his wife. Demeter became consumed with rage and sorrow over this and vowed to punish the inhabitants of earth with snow and bitter cold for an eternity if her daughter was not returned. Herakles entered Hades kingdom to negotiate a compromise - Persephone would spend half the year with her husband in the underworld, and the other with her mother on earth. During the winter the earth is ravaged by Demeter's sorrow, yet when spring arrives Persephone rejoins her mother and the earth is blessed with Demeter's happiness. This piece illsutrates the extreme duality surrounding Persephone's existence. SOLD