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Proserpina, a MythSource painting
Roman

Proserpina

Queen of the Underworld · Queen of the Dead · Goddess of Spring

01Identity

Proserpina in Roman tradition

Proserpina is carried into the Underworld by Dis when the earth opens as she gathers a flower. She is the Roman queen of the Underworld and goddess of spring, seasonal renewal, agriculture and grain. After eating seven pomegranate seeds, she remains bound there for part of each year, spending three months with Hades and nine with Demeter.

Top questions

The quick answers

  • Who is Proserpina?

    Proserpina is a Roman deity associated with the underworld and the dead; spring and seasonal renewal; agriculture and grain; and fertility and vegetation.
    Source

    Source

    • The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion
    • Bullfinch Mythology - The Age of Fable
    • The Oxford Companion to World Mythology
    • Greek Mythology: August 2018

  • What is Proserpina the goddess of?

    Proserpina is associated with the underworld and the dead; spring and seasonal renewal; agriculture and grain; and fertility and vegetation.
    Source

    Source

    • The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion
    • Bullfinch Mythology - The Age of Fable

  • What family links are recorded for Proserpina?

    Father: Jupiter, Mother: Ceres, Spouse: Hercyna.
02Family

Proserpina’s family, at a glance

JupiterCeres
Proserpina

with Hercyna, Liber, Pluto

03The names

The names Proserpina answers to

Persephone

Greek equivalent and source figure

SourceThe Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion

Kore

The Maiden

SourceThe Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion

Libera

Roman goddess-name associated with Proserpina

SourceThe Oxford Companion to World Mythology

Queen of the Underworld

Ruler beside Pluto in the realm of the dead

SourceGreek Mythology: August 2018

04The myths

The myths of Proserpina

2 myths, with sources recorded for each.

The Flower Gathering and Abduction of Proserpina

As Proserpina bent to gather a particularly beautiful flower, the earth opened beneath her. Dis, the god of the Underworld, charged out with horses and a chariot. He seized her and carried her away from the meadow. Her companions could not prevent him.

In Sicily, Dis drove towards the depths near the spring of Cyane, between the fountains of Cyane and Arethusa. Cyane, a nymph of Sicily, knew Proserpina and spread her arms across the water. She told Dis that he could not become Ceres's son-in-law against Ceres's will. She said that he should have sought Proserpina courteously instead of forcing her away. Cyane recalled that Anapus had loved her, yet had allowed her to consent freely.

Dis answered Cyane with anger. He urged on his fearful horses and struck the bottom of the pool with his royal mace. The earth opened again, and he drove beneath it with Proserpina. He carried her into the Underworld and made her its queen.

Ceres heard Proserpina's cry as Dis dragged her away. She began to search for her daughter across the whole world. Pain and anger drove her over land and sea. She fasted, wore her hair untied, and carried flaming torches as she wandered in search of the vanished girl.

Also told of Persephone in the Greek tradition.

The Flower Gathering and Abduction of Proserpina, a MythSource painting of the scene

3 sources· checked 2026-08-24

  1. 1Greek Myths & TalesT1
  2. 2Ovid, MetamorphosesT1

    Quote

    “While Proserpina gathers flowers, Dis breaks open the earth, seizes her, and carries her into the Underworld, where he makes her its queen.”

    Ovid, Metamorphoses

  3. 3Greek MythologyT1

Proserpina Punishes Ascalaphus

Ascalaphus saw Proserpina pick a pomegranate from a tree in Hades and eat seven seeds. He told Hades that she had tasted the food of the dead and offered to bear witness. Hades grinned and ordered Ascalaphus to perch on the back of Hermes's chariot. Hermes carried him to Eleusis, where Demeter joyfully embraced her daughter. When Demeter heard about the pomegranate, she became more sorrowful and refused to return to Olympus or lift her curse from the land. The earth remained under Demeter's curse while the dispute continued.

Zeus then persuaded Rhea, the mother of Hades, Demeter, and Zeus, to plead with Demeter. An agreement followed. Proserpina spent three months each year with Hades as Queen of Tartarus, under the name Persephone, and spent the other nine months with Demeter. Hecate offered to watch Proserpina and ensure that the agreement was kept. Demeter then agreed to return home.

Proserpina punished Ascalaphus for revealing that she had eaten the pomegranate. She changed him into a screech owl, a bird of ill omen, and confined him to the darkness. His punishment kept him from escaping the consequences of his betrayal.

Also told of Persephone in the Greek tradition.

Proserpina Punishes Ascalaphus, a MythSource painting of the scene

3 sources· checked 2026-08-24

  1. 1The Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics)T1
  2. 2Apollodorus, The LibraryT1

    Quote

    “After Proserpina eats seven pomegranate seeds, Ascalaphus is changed into a screech owl, and she spends three months with Hades and nine with Demeter.”

    Apollodorus, The Library

  3. 3The Greek MythsT1

Also mentioned in

Stories elsewhere on MythSource that mention Proserpina, each on that figure’s page.