PomegranateBy Vareltzidis Giannis

Dalatsis ChristosGavalas Giannis

GENERAL INFORMATION The pomegranate

fruit is an apple shaped fruit that is red in color. Inside the pomegranate fruit, there are many small seeds which make the fruit rather hard to eat. It can be eaten raw made juice or even used in cooking.

Persephone’s MythPersephone’s Myth One day, when Persephone

was wandering about the earth she was noticed by Hades, Lord of the Underworld, who instantly fell in love with her. Hades abducted Persephone and took her to his domain in the underworld to live with him as his wife and queen. Demeter, Persephone's mother, upon noticing that her daughter had been abducted by Hades immediately caused all plants to stop growing upon the face of the earth. Trees, flowers, fruits, vegetables and grains all ceased to grow.

Demeter then filed a grievance with Zeus, regarding the abduction of her daughter by Hades, in which she informed Zeus that she would not allow any growth to occur on earth until Persephone was returned to her. Although Zeus was not interested in becoming involved with the affairs of other gods and goddesses, he also realized that he could not allow the earth to remain cold and barren for this would mean the end of all life on the planet.

Zeus eventually mediated an agreement between Demeter and Hades in which Persephone would spend half of the year on earth and the other half of the year in the underworld. Demeter consented to this agreement and for the half of the year in which Persephone walked upon the earth Demeter allowed the plants to grow, blossom and bear fruit. For the six months that Persephone spent in the underworld Demeter caused all growth to go dormant.

SYMBOLISM OF MYTH The tale of Persephone and the Pomegranate is a metaphor for the continual cycle of growth, dormancy and re-growth which governs all things in the physical realm.

Greek Yogurt Cheesecake Recipe with Pomegranate Sauce

IngredientsCrust:1 1/2 cups finely ground gingersnaps

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, cooled slightly9-inch-diameter springform pan

Filling:2 teaspoons powdered gelatin1 1/2 pounds cream cheese, room temperature

1 1/2 cups plain whole-milk Greek yogurt3/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or seeds of 1 vanilla bean

1/2 teaspoon saltPomegranate syrup:2 cups flash-pasteurized pomegranate juice

1/2 cup sugar2 tablespoons light corn syrup

Pomegranate seeds