THE LILY

Lilium: from the Greek word 'leirion'. Tall, elegant, this regal lady gloriously and assuredly rises from the soil in summer.

Singularly sensual, elegant and beautiful: She has no competitors.With her beauty she commands your eye; with her fragrance she commands your senses.

Sweet White Lily

I give you my sweet white Lily
My petals a treasure from heaven above.

  Soft and plush like that of crushed velvet.  Tender and pink do they lay beneath. My scent so gloriously enticing.
A most divine essence to behold. Petal upon sweet petal for you to unfold.  Detailed and like braille do you then trace.

 For my bud there under will you bequeath. At it's core, sticky and sweet does it reside. For you alone, the gift of my sweet white Lily

by Pandora

Calla Lily~a true sculptural beauty; it beguiles me every year. Soon as it appears in my garden, I am reminded of the great photographer Mapplethorpe whose beautiful photos of this flower are iconic. Photo by Flavia Brilli

Mythology

A symbol of purity. According to ancient Greek mythology, the lily flower was created from the breast milk of Hera, the Greek Goddess of Love and Marriage and the wife of Zeus.  However, Roman legend has it that when goddess of love, Venus, rose from the sea and saw the lily flower she was so consumed with jealousy of its beauty and purity that she caused an ugly pistil to grow from the flower's center. 

Below, the first picture of a lily which appeared in Crete around 1580 BC.

The minoan "fresco of the Lilies", found in Amnisos. Now exhibited in the Heraklion Archaelogical Museum.

All images and words © 2018 Flavia Brilli.

Copyright Notice

All images/articles contained on this site are subject to UK and European copyright Laws and remain the property of the photographer/author, Flavia Brilli, at all times.

A selection of images on this website may be purchased through this blog's PRINTS FOR SALE PAGE or by clicking on the FINEARTAMERICA links above.

0

The Rose

Spring time has arrived,
now she showers golden

Nivedita Patnaik

Rose: from the Latin 'Rosa'; and linked to the Greek 'Rhodon'. Like showers of golden suns, these yellow blooms shine bright and brilliant in the summer sun. And, then, as dusk draws its shroud upon my garden, they slowly withdraw into the dying light like fading stars. 

Roses at dusk in my garden by Flavia Brilli

Greek Mythology

In Greek mythology, the rose was created by the goddess of flowers, Chloris. One day, she found the lifeless body of a nymph in the woods and transformed her into a flower. She then called upon Aphrodite, goddess of love, and Dionysus, the god of wine. Aphrodite gave the flower beauty as her gift and Dionysus added nectar to give it a sweet fragrance. Zephyrus, god of the West Wind, blew the clouds away so Apollo, the sun god, could shine and make the flower bloom. That is how the rose was created and rightfully crowned "Queen of Flowers"

Chloris: a Nymph. She represented spring, flowers and new growth.  Her Roman equivalent was the goddess Flora.

Roman Mythology

The Romans made the rose a symbol of beauty and love. And in Roman mythology, the son of Venus (Cupid) was stung by a bee while shooting arrows into a garden full of roses.  When Venus was walking in the garden, she pricked her foot on a thorn left by her son. It turned the roses red. During the domination of the Roman Empire, roses were also a symbol of vanity. Roman Emperors often smothered their guests in rose petals during their dinners and orgies.

Cupid shooting arrows into a garden of roses

Venus Vericordia by Dante Rossetti (1866)

Shown here by Dante with a background of roses symbolising beauty and love

The Roses of Heliogabalus by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema

The Roses of Heliogabalus

Depicting the young emperor Elagabalus hosting a banquet. The painting shows a group of Roman guests at a banquet, being swamped by drifts of pink rose petals falling from a false ceiling above.The youthful Roman emperor Elagabalus wearing a golden silk robe and tiara, watches the spectacle from a platform behind them with other garlanded guests.

CLEOPATRA

Cleopatra VII, inspired by the mythical origins of roses, used their petals during public appearances. She wanted to be remembered as a goddess who smelled like roses.

ROSE COLOURS

Red Roses: True Love

Yellow Roses: Friendship

Yellow roses represent friendship, joy and caring. These beautiful sun-colored roses can convey warmth, delight, gladness and affection, as well as say good luck, welcome back, and remember me.

White Roses: Purity and innocence

Orange Roses: Passion

London Bridge Climbing Rose by Flavia Brilli

All images and words © 2018 Flavia Brilli.

Copyright Notice

All images/articles contained on this site are subject to UK and European copyright Laws and remain the property of the photographer/author, Flavia Brilli, at all times.

A selection of images on this website may be purchased through this blog's PRINTS FOR SALE PAGE .

0