Berenice's Locks

ber'e-ni-sez loks, a group of seven stars forming the constellation Coma Berenices. Berenice was the wife of Ptolemy III. While her husband was on an expedition in Syria, Berenice vowed to sacrifice her beautiful hair in the temple of the wargod, should he be brought back to her in safety. Ptolemy returned and Berenice hung her hair in the temple. The hair disappeared, for it was the will of the gods that it should be hung in the skies to shine forever in token that they were pleased with a wife's devotion.