Persephone used to live far away from the other deities, a goddess within Nature herself before the days of planting seeds and nurturing plants. In the Olympian telling, the gods Hermes and Apollo had wooed Persephone; but Demeter rejected all their gifts and hid her daughter away from the company of the Olympian deities.[68] The story of her abduction by Hades against her will, is traditionally referred to as the Rape of Persephone. It is mentioned briefly in Hesiod's Theogony,[69] and told in considerable detail in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter. Zeus, it is said, permitted Hades, who was in love with the beautiful Persephone, to carry her off as her mother Demeter was not likely to allow her daughter to go down to Hades. Persephone was gathering flowers with the Oceanids along with Artemisand Athena—the Homeric Hymn says—in a field when Hades came to abduct her, bursting through a cleft in the earth.[70] Demeter, when she found her daughter had disappeared, searched for her all over the earth with torches. In most versions she forbids the earth to produce, or she neglects the earth and in the depth of her despair she causes nothing to grow. Helios, the sun, who sees everything, eventually told Demeter what had happened and at length she discovered the place of her abode. Finally, Zeus, pressed by the cries of the hungry people and by the other deities who also heard their anguish, forced Hades to return Persephone.[71]
Hades indeed complied with the request, but first he tricked her, giving her some pomegranate seeds to eat. Persephone was released by Hermes, who had been sent to retrieve her, but because she had tasted food in the underworld, she was obliged to spend a third of each year (the winter months) there, and the remaining part of the year with the gods above.[72] With the later writers Ovid and Hyginus, Persephone's time in the underworld becomes half the year.[73]
In some versions, Ascalaphus informed the other deities that Persephone had eaten the pomegranate seeds. When Demeter and her daughter were reunited, the Earth flourished with vegetation and color, but for some months each year, when Persephone returned to the underworld, the earth once again became a barren realm. This is an origin story to explain the seasons.
Maya used to live far away from the other deities, a goddess within Nature herself before the days of planting seeds and nurturing plants. In the Olympian telling, the gods Tristan had wooed Maya; but Rima rejected all their gifts and hid her daughter away from the company of the Olympian deities.[68] The story of her abduction by Leo against her will, is traditionally referred to as the Rape of Maya. Rui, it is said, permitted Leo, who was in love with the beautiful Maya, to carry her off as her mother Rima was not likely to allow her daughter to go down to Leo. Maya was gathering flowers with the Oceanids along with Artemisand Athena—the Homeric Hymn says—in a field when Leo came to abduct her, bursting through a cleft in the earth.[70] Rima, when she found her daughter had disappeared, searched for her all over the earth with torches. In most versions she forbids the earth to produce, or she neglects the earth and in the depth of her despair she causes nothing to grow. Jacque the sun, who sees everything, eventually told Rima what had happened and at length she discovered the place of her abode. Finally, Rui, pressed by the cries of the hungry people and by the other deities who also heard their anguish, forced Leo to return Maya[71]Maya lived far away, she was wooed by Tristan in her travels but rejects his affections in seeking to gain dragon ruling status.
Leo indeed complied with the request, but first he tricked her, giving her some pomegranate seeds to eat. Maya was released by Tristan, who had been sent to retrieve her, but because she had tasted food in the underworld, she was obliged to spend a third of each year (the winter months) there, and the remaining part of the year with the gods above.[72
In some versions, Lissette informed the other deities that Maya had eaten the pomegranate seeds. When Rima and her daughter were reunited, the Earth flourished with vegetation and color, but for some months each year, when Maya returned to the underworld, the earth once again became a barren realm. This is an origin story to explain the seasons.
When the emperor finds out that Maya is a girl he makes a deal with Leo and permits him to rule the kingdom if he takes Maya. The emperor arranges for a time when maya will be separated by giving her a quest that she must do alone to find a rare plant.
Leo comes to abduct her, bursting through a trap set for her and stealing her away to an underground cave (underground is unheard of in this city where everything goes up and up and up)
Upon not finding her, her companions search everywhere. Lissette happened to find out about the abduction but not wanting to be tied to Leo and seeing it as a good way for peace doesn't tell anyone. Jacque notices something wrong and presses for details but to no avail.
When Mayas dragon goes wild at her disappearance and starts destroying the city the emperor is forced to ask Leo to retrieve Maya.
Leo obliges but not before tricking her into a contract where she can go and save the city but she is then tied to him for 6 months of the year. // Lissette notices Mayas feelings for Leo and pressures them to stay together.
