Proserpina

Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel. Complete indexed photo collection at WorldHistoryPics.com

• Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China - Marble Statue of Persephone, 2nd Century AD CC0
• File:Marble Statue of Persephone, 2nd Century AD (41410710410).jpg
• Created: 5 July 2018

The Roman cult of Mother and Maiden named Proserpina as queen of the underworld, spouse to Rome's king of the underworld, Dis pater, and daughter to Ceres.

The cult's functions, framework of myths and roles involved the agricultural cycle, seasonal death and rebirth, dutiful daughterhood and motherly care.

They included secret initiations and nocturnal torchlit processions, and cult objects concealed from non-initiates.

Proserpina's forcible abduction by the god of the underworld, her mother's search for her, and her eventual but temporary restoration to the world above are the subject of works in Roman and later art and literature.