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Description

Athena and Artemis are only mentioned towards the end of the Homeric Hymn to Demeter as being among Persephone’s companions when she was abducted, but they played a slightly bigger role in other versions of the myth.

“Another feature with perhaps Orphic associations is the presence of Athena and Artemis to aid Demeter in her search or even to resist Hades at the time of the abduction; the former situation is implied by Euripides (Hel 1310-18), the latter described in detail by Claudian (RP 2.204-31). In both cases Zeus intervenes (with a thunderbolt in Claudian) to discourage pursuit of the abductor.”

Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary and Artistic Sources by Timothy Gantz

Description

Athena and Artemis are only mentioned towards the end of the Homeric Hymn to Demeter as being among Persephone’s companions when she was abducted, but they played a slightly bigger role in other versions of the myth.

“Another feature with perhaps Orphic associations is the presence of Athena and Artemis to aid Demeter in her search or even to resist Hades at the time of the abduction; the former situation is implied by Euripides (Hel 1310-18), the latter described in detail by Claudian (RP 2.204-31). In both cases Zeus intervenes (with a thunderbolt in Claudian) to discourage pursuit of the abductor.”

Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary and Artistic Sources by Timothy Gantz