Bulfinch’s Mythology · Character

Proserpine

Daughter of Ceres, queen of the underworld, abducted by Pluto.

minor

Also known as Ceres, Ceres seeking Proserpine

First appearance: Proserpine—Glaucus and Scylla

Proserpine shows up with force in Stories of Gods and Heroes. The page is where that presence becomes real.

Proserpine is abducted by Pluto, leading to her role as queen of the underworld.

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In Stories of Gods and Heroes: Proserpine is abducted by Pluto, leading to her role as queen of the underworld. Later, in Introduction:…

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See Proserpine in Proserpine—Glaucus and Scylla

Character Web

32 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Greek Mythological Heroes
Charlemagne's Paladins and Figures
Greek and Trojan Heroes

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

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In the story

Proserpine appears across 15 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Stories of Gods and Heroes
Proserpine is abducted by Pluto, leading to her role as queen of the underworld.
Introduction
Brother of Jupiter; received the underworld as his domain.
Proserpine—Glaucus and Scylla
Daughter of Ceres, abducted by Pluto while gathering flowers in the vale of Enna.
Proserpine—Glaucus and Scylla
Goddess of agriculture, who searches tirelessly for her daughter Proserpine and later withholds fertility from the land.
Cupid and Psyche
Queen of the underworld who provides Psyche with a box of beauty as part of Venus's task.
The Centaurs
Resents Aesculapius restoring the dead to life and requests Jupiter's intervention.
XIX: Hercules—Hebe and Ganymede
Mentioned in connection with Theseus's failed attempt to abduct her.
Theseus
Wife of Pluto; Pirithous aspires to marry her, leading to his and Theseus's descent to the underworld.
The Rural Deities—Erisichthon—Rhoecus—The Water Deities—Camenae—Winds
Mentioned in the context of Ceres; Ceres is central to the Erisichthon story.
Erisichthon
Goddess of agriculture whose sacred grove is violated; she orders Famine to torment Erisichthon.
Orpheus and Eurydice—Aristaeus—Amphion—Linus—Thamyris—Marsyas—Melampus—Musaeus
Queen of the underworld who is moved by Orpheus's plea and persuades Pluto to release Eurydice.
Orpheus and Eurydice
Queen of the underworld, moved by Orpheus's plea to release Eurydice.
Aristaeus, the Beekeeper
Not directly present, but referenced through the context of Orpheus and Eurydice's story.
Palinurus
Queen of the underworld, to whom the golden branch is to be offered as a gift by Aeneas.
P
Goddess of all growing things, daughter of Ceres, carried off by Pluto.

Chapter companion notes

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See Proserpine in Proserpine—Glaucus and Scylla

See Proserpine in Stories of Gods and Heroes