June 12, 2023
by Katarzyna Nowocin-Kowalczyk
The rose is often called the queen of flowers, and its symbolism is very rich. It is attributed to the goddess of love, beauty and flowers, Aphrodite. It represents our strongest feelings such as love, passion and admiration.
Since ancient times, it has also symbolized regeneration; death and rebirth; secrecy, confidentiality and silence (from which the term sub rosa, or secret, comes); and also the union, male and female, and the union of matter and spirit.
Roses come in a wide range of colors that can have different meanings. Roses talk. For example, a single red rose often means "I love you." It is a symbol of romance, love and passion. In turn, a white rose is a symbol of hope, innocence and purity in many cultures. It also means silence. A light shade of pink is often associated with femininity, so a naturally pink rose signifies grace and sweetness.
We live in stories, so the rose also has its stories. One of them can be found in Greek myths, although there are many versions of this story. And we will probably not be surprised by the fact that it is a story of a certain love, whose heroes are: a beautiful young man, the divine Adonis, the goddess Aphrodite and the other one, the wife of Hades and the ruler of the underworld, Persephone. Or maybe the latter was the former?
Two women loved the same man. Two beautiful goddesses. One represented love, the other death. And none of them wanted to give it up. It is therefore not surprising that Ares, the god of war, found out about their dispute. After all, quarrels are the domain of the god of war. Ares sent a large boar to attack Adonis, who attacked the young man with his large tusk, tearing his crotch. Aphrodite found her dying lover. He died in her arms, and wherever a drop of his blood fell, beautiful red roses grew.
Another version of this story says that Aphrodite asked Zeus, the highest of the gods, to resurrect her lover. However, Persephone did not want to agree to this. She claimed that Adonis had died and now belonged to the kingdom of the dead, of which she was the ruler. Therefore, Adonis belongs to her. Zeus listened to both divine women and then made his decision. He resurrected Adonis and decreed that Adonis would spend one-third of the year with Aphrodite, one-third with Persephone, and one-third wherever he chose. According to this story, Adonis always chose Aphrodite.
Thus, Adonis joined the group of one of many gods representing the archetype of the "dying and reborn god". It is worth adding that this archetype occurs in all cultures. The red rose has become inextricably linked with romantic love. A love that goes beyond death and beyond the short lives of lovers.
-KatarzynaNK (Catherine)
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The Story about the Rose - with the cultural expert's eye
Katarzyna Nowocin-Kowalczyk (Catherine)
The Story about the Rose; read in Polish by the author
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