The pomegranate, one of the first fruits to be cultivated, was revered by many of the world's major religions, before its healing abilities were discovered.
The pomegranate is a symbol of life, rebirth, and marriage in the Greek tale of Persephone having been kidnapped by Hades, lord of the underworld. While gathering flowers one day, Persephone found a narcissus that was breathtakingly beautiful. The earth cracked open as she reached down to get it, and Hades grabbed her and dragged her to his realm.
Because the pomegranate is a symbol of the indissolubility of marriage, Persephone bound herself to Hades by eating a few of its seeds. Demeter, the corn goddess, was so distraught by the loss of her daughter that she forbade the ground from bearing fruit until she was reunited with her. With that, a compromise was made through Zeus' intervention, where Persephone should spend one-third of the year with Hades and the other two thirds with Demeter. Every year, springtime heralds Persephone's return from the underworld.