* Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, represents the fertile earth and the growth of plants.
* Proserpina, her daughter, represents the cycle of life and death.
* When Proserpina is abducted by Pluto and taken to the underworld, Ceres mourns her loss, causing the earth to become barren and cold. This represents winter.
* When Proserpina returns to the surface, Ceres is overjoyed, and the earth blooms with life again. This represents spring and summer.
The myth suggests that the Earth's seasonal changes are tied to the cycle of Proserpina's life - her time spent in the underworld corresponds to winter, while her time on the surface corresponds to spring and summer.