In the series conclusion, Natalie Haynes delves into the dark compromise that resolved the myth of Demeter and Persephone. She explores how this narrative gave ancient people a vital framework for understanding the seasons - a bitter bargain that marked the transition from the vibrant bloom of spring to the barren, unforgiving hardship of winter.

This myth also gave birth to the ancient world’s most profound and secretive religious tradition. Natalie traces the path of ancient initiates who embarked on a thirteen-mile procession from Athens to Eleusis to take part in the sacred rites. By examining rare fragments like the Great Eleusinian Relief and the Ninnion Tablet, she uncovers the only surviving visual clues to these top-secret rituals. From ritual purification with piglets to the potential use of hallucinogenic mouldy grain, Natalie explores why thousands of pilgrims - including famous figures like Plato, Cicero, and Roman Emperors Hadrian and Augustus - flocked to Eleusis for centuries.

Natalie examines how this tale of maternal fury and restorative love has inspired two and a half millennia of art. From the breathtaking marble of Bernini’s Rape of Proserpina to the Tony-Award-winning musical Hadestown, the myth continues to resonate as a powerful exploration of love and power.