Persephone's Family Tree

Father

Illegitimate Union

Hades' Father, Cronus, was convinced he would be destroyed by one of his sons. So, of course, he ate his young. He swallowed them whole, of course. Unfortunately, he didn't get all of them, and his eldest son, Zeus, came back and killed him, releasing his brothers and Sisters. Hades, Zeus, and Poseidon then drew lots for the parts of the world they would rule over, unfortunately Hades was stuck with the underworld, making him bitter and lonely.

Zeus, in his desire, took advantage of Demeter, convincing her to join with him in the form of a serpent. She was more interested in his brother, Poseidon, but agreed. Years of Pining after the Ocean's ruler made her bitter towards men, including Zeus, whom she always resented for not helping her care for Persephone.

Like with most of his illegitimate children, Zeus was not an active participant in his daughter's life. This was as much to protect her from his wife as it was pure laziness. He does have an interest in her, however, though not of an honest nature. If this is true it would be without her consent. She has never loved or cared for her father, in fact she does everything she can to stay away from him, knowing his reputation is enough to make her dislike him.

Melinoe and Zagreus

Melinoe: The goddess of the appropriations given to ghosts, she had black limbs on one side of her body and white on the other. She presided over the night with a host of ghosts.

Zagreus: An early form of the God Dionysus. As a child Zeus allowed him to play with his lightening bolts to protect himself. However, Hera, in jealousy, cut him limb from limb. Zeus saved his heart and gave it to another of his lovers where she conceived him and he was reborn.

Persephone was an unwilling victim of her father's advances. While she does admit these children are hers, she has never forgiven Zeus for these advances.

Mother.

Hades

Persephone

Hades and Persephone turned out to be a very good match for each other. Both had a deep understanding of loneliness. Persephone had been too much in the light, she was interested in the beauty and peace darkness could bring her each year. Hades, having spent his existence in the dark cherished the drop of sunlight she brought to him. Married life also afforded Persephone the power she had always dreamed of having, she became independent, and able to rule and watch over her own domain, even if that was the domain of the dead. She no longer felt like a helpless child, or feared being a victim like her mother. She was only once unfaithful, struck with desire for the mortal, Adonis, however, when compared to their family members, Hades and Persephone were completely dedicated to one another.

Hades' Mother was the Titan Rhea. She loved her children, but was forced to watch as her husband ate them. She saved her last Son, Zeus, from this terrible fate, and afterwords Zeus freed all his other siblings by killing his father. Hades has always wished he knew his mother, but such a kind influence never touched him.

Persephone's mother was never willing to let her daughter grow and become her own woman. After being abandoned by Zeus, she decided to hide the young girl away from the world.

She was so shrouded in mystery that the early mortals had almost no idea who she was, and many strange cults and ideas surrounded the young goddess.

This made Persephone a very Sad, lonely child. She didn't have the heart to tell her mother how she felt, but it took a toll on her psyche, and she dreamed of growing up and being able to leave her mother's oppressive protectiveness. She also dreamed of becoming more powerful so that she would be able to protect herself against what had happened to her mother.

In Most Mythologies Persephone and Hades had no Children. However, in Orphic myth they had the Erinyes, three underworld Goddesses who avenged crimes against nature such as homicide, perjury, unfilial conduct, and crimes against Gods.