Persephone

In Greek mythology, the goddess and queen of the underworld; the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, goddess of agriculture. She was carried off to the underworld by Pluto, also known as Hades, although Zeus later ordered that she should spend six months of the year above ground with her mother. The myth symbolizes the growth and decay of vegetation and the changing seasons.

Zeus had ruled that Persephone could be granted complete release if she had abstained from food in the underworld, but she had consumed a pomegranate seed.

In one version she ate the fruit at the behest of Pluto as she was leaving; in another she took it while walking in Pluto's garden, but was seen and reported by Ascalphus, son of a nymph of the Styx. Ascalphus was transformed into an owl by Demeter for his betrayal.