In Ovid's Metamorphoses, Roman literature describes the merciless act of rape of Pluto, to seize and carry away Proserpina without the consent of Ceres and in parallel in the Homeric Hymns of Demeter; Persephone was seized and taken away by Hades without Demeter's consent. The invariant theme identified in Greek and Roman literature was the loss of Persephone/Proserpina's innocence. Despite the various differences that the story was presented, it reinforced the innocence that was stolen from the god of the underworld, Hades or also known as Pluto. Throughout this article, we will discuss similar features of the two myths, such as the motive that led and encouraged the god of the underworld to kidnap Persephone/Proserpina, and the consequences caused by the grief of the kidnapped Persephone/Proserpina's mother . The article will also discuss the differences between the two literatures, such as the involvement of other gods and goddesses. In the earlier Greek source, the Homeric Hymns to Demeter depicted Persephone as an innocent young goddess picking flowers with her young playmates "the maiden was playing with the deep-breasted girls of Okeanos, picking flowers, roses, crocuses and beautiful violets” (HHDem. 4-6). At the same time, in Ovid's text, the features and characteristics of the young goddess were still preserved. Proserpina, the Greek goddess equivalent of Persephone, was also found playing and picking flowers. “Here Proserpina was playing in a clearing of flowers… filling her basket and her knees to gather more than the other girls” (Met., p. 111). In Ovid's Metamorphoses, Proserpina's sphere of influence was still retained with the Greek goddess equivalent of Persephone, the goddess of spring, if...... middle of paper ......caused by the mother in mourning following the Persephone/Proserpina kidnapping. However, despite the similarities of the two literatures, Ovid incorporated and modified new elements and characters into the myth of the abduction of Persephone/Proserpina. The incorporation of Venus and Cupid significantly altered the similar story from Greek and Roman literature, involving Cupid's arrow passing through Pluto's heart, Venus not wanting another girl to remain a virgin, and her desire to expand his power. In conclusion, each argument discussed in the article reinforced the invariant theme identified in Greek and Roman literature, the loss of Persephone/Proserpina's innocence. Works Cited Shelmerdine, Susan. The Homeric Hymns. Newburyport MA: Focus Publishing, 1995. Print. Melville, D, A. Ovid's Metamorphoses. Oxford New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print.