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The Greek Myth of Winter

In modern times, science has explained the causes of storms, floods, earthquakes, and disease, but ancient people were awed by these mysterious event. Perhaps to gain a sense of control, they created tales about the world around them. Since humans are congenitally self-centered, it was natural for ancient people to assume that the forces driving nature were just like themselves. Stories were told of gods who ate, loved, and hated just as we do, but on a larger scale. Because these gods had gargantuan powers, their smallest wish could mean disaster or good fortune for all the Earth. Amisanthropic god might send deadly storms; a philanthropic one might share the secrets of fire and food.

One ancient Greek tale of humanlike gods deals with the genesis of winter. The legend blames it on a common problem of the human psyche, a mother-in-law’s jealousy of her daughter’s husband.

According to the ancient Greeks, the Earth was once a warm, green paradise where the goddess Demeter provided summer throughout the year. But one day, Persephone, Demeter’s beautiful and vivacious daughter, wandered away from her friends to explore a flowered field. Unfortunately, Hades, the god of the underworld, was visiting the Earth and enjoying a panoramic view of the very same place. With one look at Persephone, Hades instantly fell in love. Unable to control himself, he carried her off to the underworld and made her his bride.

Pandemonium broke loose when world of Hades’ crime reached the other gods, Demeter frantically tried to get her daughter back, begging Zeus, king of the gods, to order her return. Although Zeus was renowned for his power, Hades, a maverick who resisted all control, refused to return Persephone.

In her desperation, Demeter forgot to provide the Earth with the warmth and sunshine vital to growing crops, and the world was plunged into winter. Plants began to die one by one, and when no viable crops were left, humans faced starvation. Through here personal sadness, Demeter was causing the genocide of the human race. Zeus appealed to Hades, who finally agreed to let Persephone return home, as long as she had not eaten anything.

What had Persephone been doing while Demeter was trying to release here? Sitting unhappily in the underworld, she had led a spartan existence, refusing all the luxuries that Hades offered. She had eaten no food – except for seven pomegranate seeds. Alas! Persephone had eaten only a nominal amount, but she had eaten. Hades did not have to let her go.

Zeus and Demeter quickly thought of another arrangement. For nine months of the year, Persephone would live with her mother, and for three months she would live with Hades. Just as Persephone’s life was divided, Demeter decreed that for nine months the earth would have warm weather, and for three months it would have winter. Although this arrangement was not perfect, it was a relief from endless winter.

And that is how, according to the ancient Greeks, winter began.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 at 10:43 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.