The Metamorphoses Summary:Ceres and Proserpina

Venus asked her son, Cupid, to make Pluto fall in love with Proserpina. He shoots his arrow and Pluto quickly pursues her. He takes her off to Sicily, and Cyane tried to stop him. Pluto struck Cyane’s pool and plunged into the darkness in his chariot with Proserpina. Cyane dissolved, transformed into water, and flowed into the pool. Ceres started to seek her daughter and during her journey threw some brew of roast barley into a boy’s face that was making fun of her and he turned into a spotted newt. She shrunk him tiny. Cyane could not talk but she gave Ceres a clue; the girdle that Proserpina had worn. Ceres started to destroy farmers, their crops, and their cattle. One girl, Arethusa, pleaded her country’s case; even though she was not originally from there. Ceres left the country and went up in the air to see Jupiter. She asked him to avenge Proserpina and punish Pluto. Jupiter said that Pluto was approved by him as a son-in-law, and told Ceres to let it be. Proserpina broke her fast and ate a pomegranate in the underworld and Ascalaphus witnessed it. She turned Ascalaphus into a bird. Jupiter was faced with an ultimatum, so what he did was allow Proserpina to be with Pluto for six months, and Ceres for six months, dividing the time between the two. Ceres was just happy to have her daughter back.

Arethusa was near the water and wanted to bathe so she became naked, and Alpheus saw this and desired her. The goddess Diana clothed her with a cloud, but Alpheus still pursued her. Alpheus took the form of the river so that he might mingle with Arethusa. Diana cracked the earth, and Arethusa plunged into the deep cavern, and then was brought to Ortygia.

The nine sisters lost, and were angry. They were turned into birds.