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The rape of Prosperine. The Romans had no great Underworld divinities of their own and instead borrowed those of the Etruscans which had themselves been subjected to Greek influence. Hence they believed that the Underwolrd was ruled by Hades (or Pluto) and his wife Persephone, who name was corrputed in Latin into Prosperine. This antique sarciphagus depicts her abduction by Hades while Minerva and Hecate follow in pursuit.

Prosperine and the Pomegranite, D.G.Rossetti, Tate Gallery, London.

The Rape of Persephone - 15th century minature.

"Till a lock of hair is devoted to Proserpine, she refuses to release the soul from the dying body. When Dido mounted the funeral pile, she lingered in suffering till Juno sent Iris to cut off a lock of her hair. In all sacrifices a forelock was first cut off from the head of the victim as an offering to the black queen."

- Dictionary of Phrase and Fable by E. Cobham Brewer