Goddesses and Tests

wingardium-leviosa — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:49:55 -0800

I have this vague idea for a retelling of the myth of Hades and Persephone in my mind, but I haven't figured out all the details yet. What I have so far is that there's this girl who has been prepared for something - she doesn't know what - all her life, and during one masquerade ball, she will be tested for her potential to become the wife of Hades. I feel like this should be more of a wit thing, like chess or poker or some card game or something, but should also test her moral views and whatnot. Any ideas for things I can test my MC with?

Re: Goddesses and Tests

Dennis Dunjinman — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:17:23 -0800

WIfe of Hades? I thought Hades just kidnapped her and they were married happily ever after, except for Demeter's upset over the temporary loss of her daughter. Well, what does the lord of the underworld want in a bride? I'm sure he'd want someone with some compassion. And someone who remembers things in case she accidentally drinks the Lethe water. And loyalty to not break her promises!

Re: Goddesses and Tests

Deamsickdev — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:28:35 -0800

I would say the test should revolve around determination and will - is she attached to her life now, or is she ready to 'move on'? Is she queen material? Is she tougher in spirit, or as frail as a flower, too frail to survive in a place like the Underworld? Are her priorities in the right place? If I remember from mythology, Hades and Persephone were actually one of the rare faithful god/goddess couples. Basically, as much of happy ending as Greek mythology would have ever allowed. I think that would be one thing that Hades would prize. After all, the living and trappings of life are but temporary, but the after life is forever. He would want to make sure that she would be worthy of that. (Considering the families in Greek mythology, I could imagine the level of distrust in wanting to court the mythological daughter of Zeus and Demeter....Yikes.) I agree with Dennis, though - in most stories, Persephone is also known for her compassion. So moral views, that would make sense. Wit/sense would go with that, too. Perhaps some disaster happens in the ball, something that endangered the humans (or, other kinds of people) there, and she would have to make a difficult decision. Whatever she chose to do would show not only her compassion (wanting to help people), and wits (not just making the blindly heroic decision, but the best one), and pure-heartness/faithfulness/loyalty/determination/what-have-you as well. Maybe it starts out as a game, like chess, but then she realizes that the moves that they're making are affecting people in the real world, and that forces her hand somehow.

Re: Goddesses and Tests

dragon_charmer — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:11:49 -0800

What if she is tested for her ability to survive through horror? I mean, I imagine living in Hades isn't a fairytale.. He wouldn't want a wife who will go insane or will keep trying to run away. So what if during the party, she is lured into the basement.. that is haunted.. and she can't get out.. and she meets with the souls of the dead.. who give her clues about her past and her future.. You get the idea. I hope it helps :P

Re: Goddesses and Tests

Argentum — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:27:16 -0800

Is she the only candidate? Or does she face some competition from other likely maidens? I love Deamsickdev's suggestion of the test starting out like a game, but turning out to have real consequences.

Re: Goddesses and Tests

firebird_ysa — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:42:36 -0800

Actually, there is one story - when Persephone was Queen of the Underworld, she and Aphrodite both fell in love with Adonis, and got into a fight over him. He chose Aphrodite, so Persephone dobbed him in to Ares, who turned into a boar and gored him to death. That's one version anyway, and that's the only story I do know of Hades/Persephone infidelity. That said, it also shows quite a manipulative and calculating streak to her as well which is at odds with her compassionate side. But also, yeah, total kidnap on Hades' part, and you could kinda argue the worst date-rape ever, what with tricking her into eating the pomegranate seeds so she had to stay with him

Re: Goddesses and Tests

firebird_ysa — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:44:59 -0800

This page about her might be helpful in crafting a character based around her: http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Persephone.html Apparently her names means something like "she who destroys the light."

Re: Goddesses and Tests

firebird_ysa — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:46:32 -0800

Scratch that - also found this about her children: "[1] ZAGREUS (by Zeus) (Orphic Hymn 29, Hyginus Fabulae 155, Diodorus Siculus 4.4.1, Nonnus Dionysiaca 6.155, Suidas s.v. Zagreus) [2] MELINOE (by Zeus) (Orphic Hymn 71) [3] THE ERINYES (by Haides) (Orphic Hymns 29 & 70)" So... yeah.

Re: Goddesses and Tests

firebird_ysa — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:57:36 -0800

Reading through it, it looks like you could have a lot of fun building the character of Persephone - it gives examples of her wraths (including a concubine of Hades, who she 'trampled under foot'), favours and loves. It paints a picture of a woman who can be pleasant enough when she wants to, but has a wicked temper - as most of the Goddesses did. I love how capricious they all are. It does make me think that perhaps compassion might not be the quality Hades would be looking for. Dignity, I reckon, and real strength of character are what are coming across to me. She's decribed as an 'Infernal Juno' by some - basically, Hera of the Underworld, which would also make her a little bit cah-razy. I can see her as being at different turns icy cold and really fiery.

Re: Goddesses and Tests

Deamsickdev — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:40:34 -0800

Well, of course. No one god or goddess has one side to their personality, and no three dimensional character, either. ^_- I believe that she would have a compassionate side, personally - her part in the story of Orpheus is an example - but of course she would be able to manipulative and calculating. Considering her family history, it would only be natural. There was also, I remember, an infidelity story about how Hades once cheated with Persephone with the nymph Minthe/Menthe. Persephone took vengeance when she found out and turned her into, well, a mint plant. No, she wasn't always compassionate - but Hades wasn't always cruel, either. In this case he alleviated his wife's punishment in giving the plant that was Minthe/Menthe an aromatic scent. Which... isn't that cheering, either, admittedly. But as you say, those are the only two that I know, which, compared to many other god-couples (Zeus, certainly!) is pretty faithful. For some details, it really depends on which interpretation of the stories you're using - and there are usually multiple versions, anyway - such as one version of the myth of Narcissus saying that he had a twin sister, who died, and when he saw his own reflection, it was really her that he was falling in love with and not simply himself. Likewise, there are different interpretations of Persephone's and Hades's relationship, such as, instead of a forced marriage, presenting the tale as in the tradition of bride kidnapping, with Zeus's tacit consent in an arranged marriage. I don't really know much about her children, but I do know that there are multiple mythological origins for the Erinyes - in some versions, they are born from Ouranos/Uranus's drops of blood from the severed parts that fell into the sea, in a similar way as Aphrodite, and in another version, are the children of Nyx. Really, though, for the OP, a retelling of the myth gives them liberty to use what details they like and interpret it how they wish. :) His Persephone character may be completely different than anything you or I might expect.