#goddess flora

[duckandcover]

[mythologypaintings]

Flora

Artist: Ambroise Dubois (French, 1543-1614)

Date: 16th century

Medium Oil on canvas

Collection: Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan

Description

Flora was the Roman goddess of flowers, and people thought that Flora was the reincarnation of Chloris, ancient Greek goddess of flowers. This subject matter was favored by painters such as Botticelli and Poussin. This figure of goddess came to be taken as a single subject matter from mythological paintings, and later, it was depicted as a young female figure who holds flowers in her hands, in the form of portraits of “a woman as Flora.”

[allegorypaintings]

An Offering to Flora

Artist: Juan van der Hamen and Leon (Spanish, 1596-1631)

Date: 1627

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, Spain

Description

A lady seated in a garden is handed a basket of roses by a boy. The profusion of flowers around her and the crown on her head, as well as her location in a courtly garden with a statue in the background, identify the painting as an allegory of the goddess, Flora.

[carneirodemercurio]

"Come Mother of flowers so we may celebrate you with merry games: I delayed giving you your due last month. You begin in April & cross into May." Ovid "Mater, ades, florum, ludis celebranda iocosis: Distuleram partes mense priore tuas. Incipis Aprili, transis in tempora Maii". Ovidius "Vén, Nai das flores, para que poidamos celebrarte con alegres xogos: O mes pasado, apracei o que che corresponde. Comezas en abril e pasas aos tempos de maio." Ovidio

[carneirodemercurio]

"The goddess isn't gloomy, she’s not high-flown, She wants her rites to be open to the common man, And warns us to use life’s flower while it’s in bloom" Ovid.

Honoured Flora this third day of Floralia by enjoying these flowers on my brief walk around the village today.

"A deusa non é sombría, non é altiva, quere que os seus ritos estean abertos ao home común, e exhorta-nos a usar a flor da vida mentres está en flor". Ovidio

Honorei a Flora este terceiro día das Floralias disfrutando destas flores que mirei no meu paseo pola aldea.

[carneirodemercurio]

"A goddess comes framed in a thousand varied garlands of flowers: and the stage has freer license for mirth. Mother of flowers, approach, so we can honour you You start in April and cross to the time of May One has you as it leaves, one as it comes. Since the edges of these months are yours and defer to you, either of them suits your praises." Ovid.

'A deusa chega con mil flores variadas atadas á súa coroa; A escena ten un uso más libre da diversión. Achégate, Nai das flores, celebrada con xogos festivos. Tes un comenzo en abril, pasas aos tempos de maio. Un tente cando foxe, un como vén. Xa que as beiras destes meses son túas Para ti, calquera deles convén aos teus eloxios' Ovidio.

'Mater, ades, florum, ludis celebranda iocosis: Distuleram partes mense priore tuas. Incipis Aprili, transis in tempora Maii: Alter te fugiens, cum venit alter habet. Cum tua sint cedantque tibi confinia mensum, convenit in laudes ille vel ille tuas. Ovidius.

[sappy-witch]

Happy Floralia, darlings! 🥰🌸

Floralia is an ancient Roman festival celebrating the goddess Flora and the arrival of spring. It's a time to revel in the beauty of nature, embrace sensuality and fertility, and honor the goddess of flowers and vegetation.

Here are some ways you can celebrate this festival:

🌸 Adorn your home and altar with fresh flowers and greenery. Make a flower crown or garland to wear.

🌸 Indulge in your senses. Wear your favorite floral scent, enjoy decadent foods and drinks, or dance to music that makes you feel alive.

🌸 Take a walk in nature and appreciate the beauty of spring. Collect flowers, leaves, and other natural treasures to use in spells and rituals.

🌸 Practice divination or meditation to connect with the energies of the season and the goddess Flora.

🌸 Perform rituals or spells to honor Flora and to manifest abundance, growth, and beauty in your life.

Remember, this is a time to celebrate sensuality, pleasure, and abundance. Embrace your inner goddess and indulge in the pleasures of life. Happy Floralia, witches! 🌺🌸🌼

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Blessed be. 🕊✨

[honorthegods]

Today, April 28, marks the beginning of the Floralia, a Roman festival honoring Flora, the goddess of spring, flower gardens, and crops. She is the goddess responsible for the budding of flowers, and the protection of food crops from damaging weather and disease. Flora was regarded as one of the most important deities of the Roman pantheon with a state priesthood consisting of a married couple who were appointed for life.

April 28th was the dies natalis (anniversary) of the dedication of Flora's temple on the Aventine Hill of Rome in 238 BCE and was observed with a procession and sacrifices. Participants wore brightly-colored clothes and flower wreaths to celebrate the arrival of spring. The festivities continued until May 3 with races, gladiatorial games, and theater performances (which were sometimes bawdy, resulting in rowdy audience reception).

Featured image: So-called Flora*, fresco from the Villa Arianna, Stabiae, 1st century CE. Now in the collection of the National Archaeological Museum, Naples, Italy. Photo by ArchaiOptix: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wall_painting_-Flora-Stabiae(villa_di_Arianna)_-_Napoli_MAN_8834.jpg Image license:  Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

*It's just possible this is meant to be Proserpina/Persephone. I think it's highly unlikely, though, because existing Roman depictions of her are largely focused on her chthonic aspects. OFC YMMV.