The Story of Persephone in Pictures

This was part of my Independent Project for University. I created a magazine for children which was all about Greek Mythology. I persuaded my two housemates and one of my friends to take part. Due to the resources I had for the photos, there was a bit of artistic license involved, but it was meant to be my own version to encourage children to learn about mythology! This is my version of the Persephone myth (not quite in as much detail as it is in the project - the story was written out in full), using photographs. Every little detail was researched, and if I changed something it was explained. I think my friends had more fun dressing up than I did creating this!

Persephone was the daughter of the Goddess Demeter. She loved flowers and would often ride into the fields to gather them.

One day she was so caught up in the discovery of a new plant, that she was caught off guard and was kidnapped by Hades. She called out to her mother, but no one came and her horse fled home in terror. 

Demeter began to worry when her daughter did not come home. At the sight of the horse returning with no rider, she appealed to Zeus for help. 

She discovered that Zeus had allowed Hades to take Persephone as his bride. She wept and, in her anger, she refused to allow crops to grow until Persephone was returned. 

Zeus spoke to Hades to persuade him to give up Persephone. Hades told Persephone that she would be returned to her mother. He gave her a pomegranate as a peace offering. She accepted and ate six of the sweet seeds before she was returned to the earth. 

Persephone was returned to her mother, who was delighted to see her. Persephone told Demeter everything. Demeter realised that Persephone was tied to Hades forever as she had eaten the pomegranate, the fruit of the underworld. They appealed to Zeus who decided that Persephone must spend six months of the year in the underworld.

In her sorrow, Demeter only allowed flowers to bloom and crops to grow during the six months that Persephone walked on the earth, therefore creating the seasons. 

Why I don't really need a snooze button on my alarm....

If anyone has read my profile, you will know that my university house has a number of animals. In total we have 6 guinea pigs, a rabbit and a hamster right now. The number can increase according to whether we find any animals in need.

In February I lost my guinea pig Mercutio. I dearly missed him and so, with the encouragement of Tamsin, later rescued two more guinea pigs from a centre in Leicester. Bounty and Wispa settled in very quickly and all seemed to be going well until they hit about 6 months. Wispa started attacking Bounty and I soon was forced to separate them. They are now both perfectly happy and enjoy each others company, providing they are not in the same run or hutch!

My old boy, Mercutio.

Wispa (left) and Bounty (right)

Wispa is my reason for the title of this post. Whether its because he hears my alarm, hears us get up or simply knows the time, I don't know, but he starts squeaking in the mornings because he wants to go out and wants attention. Certainly in the summer, with my window open, it's because he hears the alarm. If i don't get up immediately he starts shouting! He is quite a character and likes to play. He has to have many toys to keep him entertained and seems to get jealous if he does not get the most attention. I have never met a guinea pig quite like it and I definitely don't get to use the snooze button on my alarm anymore!!

This is what tends to happen to Wispa's toys.....

Barcelona and Salou :)

These are photos from my lovely little holiday, with my university friend Becky, which were the last few days of freedom before we came back to reality. We spent time relaxing on the beach but also explored the local area and Barcelona.

The Beach at Salou

I love exploring little streets and shops. There is something special about them and I could have spent hours exploring all the little routes through Barcelona and discovering its secrets :) 

Spanish Streets :) 

Barcelona is somewhere I would love to go back to. I would like to stay there for several days and see everything. We had a brief tour but it was definitely not enough for me! Perhaps one day I will go back.

La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

Park Guell in Barcelona

Welcome to my Journal :) 

I have just done my first few weeks at university and am all settled in again, ready to face the year ahead. It seemed about time for me to get this going.

I am currently studying a masters in 'The Visual Culture of Classical Antiquity'. It's a long winded title and most people have no clue when I recite it, but basically it means ancient art from Greece and Rome. My housemate, Tamsin, just tells people I look at pots. We will ignore the fact that I'm mostly studying Roman wall painting this year... Apparently explaining my degree with "Pots" is easier!

I have a second blog already, Tye Lane Equestrian, which caters for all things horsey, so if you have an interest, please check it out :) This one, however, will focus on university life as a masters student, my interests, studies, travels and my chaotic student house. I hope you enjoy my posts :)

This just about sums up the chaos in my household.....