Virgo’s Mythical Chariot Abduction
In ancient Greek mythology, Demeter was the goddess who ruled over agriculture and the harvest. Among all the stories surrounding her, the most famous is the tale of her daughter, Persephone. Persephone was known for her beauty and gentle nature, which attracted the attention of many gods on Mount Olympus. However, Demeter rejected every suitor who came forward, and Persephone herself had little interest in romance. Instead, she preferred spending her days playing with nymphs in forests and gardens, surrounded by flowers and greenery.
Unknown to Persephone, however, another god had already fallen in love with her. Hades, the ruler of the underworld, once caught sight of Persephone while she was gathering flowers. From beneath the earth, he caught sight of her beauty and was instantly captivated. But Hades faced a difficult situation. Living in the underworld, he had no way to gain Demeter’s approval, nor did he know how to approach Persephone or win her heart. Unable to find another solution, he made a terrible decision: he would take Persephone away by force.
One day, Persephone was tending to the flowers in the garden when she noticed an especially beautiful blossom and stepped closer. Suddenly, the earth beneath her feet split open. Hades emerged from the depths in his chariot, grabbed Persephone, and carried her away into the underworld. As the chariot disappeared into the crack, the earth closed again, leaving no trace behind. As if nothing had ever happened.
Back home, Demeter waited anxiously for her beloved daughter to return, but Persephone never came. Desperate and worried, she turned to Zeus for help. However, Zeus showed little concern, leaving Demeter heartbroken. Unable to focus on her duties, she stopped caring for the earth. Crops withered, plants died, and the world fell into famine.
If this continued, all life would eventually disappear. Seeing the crisis grow beyond control, Zeus finally stepped in and ordered Hades to return Persephone. However, Hades was unwilling to let Persephone leave him completely. Before sending her back, he gave her a handful of pomegranate seeds. Without realizing their significance, Persephone became hungry during the journey home and ate a few of them.
When Persephone finally returned, mother and daughter embraced each other in tears. Persephone told Demeter everything that had happened during her time away. But when Demeter learned that Persephone had eaten the pomegranate seeds given by Hades, she immediately realized the consequences. Because she had eaten the food of the underworld, Persephone was bound to return there for several months every year and remain with Hades.
By then, there was no way to undo what had happened. Demeter could only accept that her daughter would spend part of every year in the underworld. During those months, overwhelmed by her longing for Persephone, Demeter once again neglected the earth. Plants stopped growing, nature lost its vitality, and humans came to call this barren season “winter.” To allow Demeter to see her daughter whenever she looked up at the sky, Zeus placed Persephone’s image among the stars, transforming her into the constellation Virgo. From then on, Demeter could always find her daughter shining above.
Observation Guide
Virgo is the largest constellation among the twelve zodiac constellations. Although it covers a vast area of the night sky, its stars are widely scattered, making its overall shape difficult to recognize.
To locate Virgo, start by finding the Big Dipper. Follow the curve of the Dipper’s handle outward, and it will lead to Arcturus, the brightest star in Boötes. Continue along the same direction, and the next bright star to appear along this path is Spica, the brightest star in Virgo. This well-known route is often remembered with the phrase “Arc to Arcturus, then spike to Spica.” By following this path across the spring sky, Virgo can be much easier to locate.
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Easter Egg
The bare earth that had remained lifeless throughout winter
was now covered with flower buds gently swaying in the breeze.
“Ah! The flowers have bloomed!”
Crocquado happily danced around in excitement.
