young goddess Persephone daughter of Demeter, goddess of fertility and patroness of agriculture, is now frolicking with her Oceanid friends in the blooming Nessean Valley, on shores of the Saronic Gulf. knowing nothing about the death god's intentions

wonderful flower grown by Gaea at request of Hades is now attracting the attention of Persephone. She admiringly extends her hand to him, tearing him off, when a golden chariot drawn by black horses, driven by Hades, immediately bursts out of the ground. Ruler of underworld immediately grabs the young goddess, dragging her into the bowels of the earth, into his place