Proserpine was playing with her companions when she was taken by Pluto to be his wife in the underworld. Her mother Ceres was saddened by her loss and the earth became barren. Ceres asked Jupiter to return Proserpine, which he allowed if she had not eaten anything in the underworld. However, Proserpine had eaten six seeds of a pomegranate so she must alternate between living with her mother Ceres on earth and with her husband Pluto in the underworld, explaining the seasons of growth and dormancy.