Rose
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The rose held significant symbolism in ancient Greece, representing themes of beauty, love, and desire. Its connection to the goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of love, made the rose a symbol of romance and affection. According to myth, the rose was said to have sprung from the blood of Adonis, Aphrodite’s lover, after he was fatally wounded by a wild boar. In this context, the rose also symbolized both love’s pleasures and its pains, as the beauty of the flower was intertwined with the tragedy of loss.
The rose’s association with Aphrodite made it a symbol of feminine beauty and allure. It was often depicted in Greek art and poetry as a symbol of the transient nature of life and love. Roses were sometimes placed in the funerary rites of the wealthy, representing a tribute to the deceased while acknowledging the fleeting nature of beauty and life itself. The flower’s delicate petals and sweet fragrance, in contrast to its thorny stem, also suggested the duality of love: tender yet capable of inflicting emotional pain.
In addition to its romantic connotations, the rose was linked to the concept of secrecy in Greek culture. The term “sub rosa” (meaning “under the rose”) came from the custom of suspending a rose over a meeting place, often a banquet hall, to indicate that any discussions held under its symbol were meant to remain confidential. This practice, rooted in the belief that the rose’s symbolism of secrecy would ensure discretion, reflects how the flower was also associated with confidentiality and trust.
 PAPHLAGONIA, Amastris. Circa 285-250 BCE AR Stater 23mm, 8.88 g, 12h Head of Mên right, wearing Phrygian cap decorated with laurel branch and star / Aphrodite seated left, holding in extended right hand Nike, who crowns her with wreath, and cradling lotus-tipped scepter in left arm; rose to left. Callataÿ, Premier, Group 2, 43 (D17/R21 – this coin); RG 5; HGC 7, 356 Ex Sigmund Collection. Ex CNG March 1999 |
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