Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Symbols of Fertility
On the subject of mandrakes, which as I was reading the wikipedia's explanation of origin, references, and uses, I was intrigued by the aspect of the mandrake being used as a fertility symbol. This prompted me to find out more about fertility symbols and all things that represent fertiity. There is one theory that the reason behind why women were portrayed more plump and vulupturous in paintings was not only to depict their wealthy-status in society and they looked round because they were eating well, but it was also to signal their fertility as women. Of course, that could just be the surface of reading into a complex painting that may be full of symbols and abstract signs that tell a story. According to the Illustrated Dictionary of Symbols in Eastern and Western Art by James Hall, some of the signs and/or symbols that signify fertility or are associated with fertility are spiral patterns, bulls, fish, goats, rabbits/hares, and ram to name a few. Does anyone know of any more symbols relating to the issue of fertility throughout Greek mythologies or otherwise (legends, folklores, children stories) off the top of their heads?
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Check out pigs and pomegranates. Pomegranates are linked to several stories, but one in particular is the story of Persephone. The Pomegranate when cut open is filled with a red liquid and seeds which reminded the Greeks of other things filled with blood and seeds. Pomegranates were offered to Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, marriage, and pigs. A phallus was a symbol of fertility that was worn as necklaces and put on door posts. It was supposed to ward away the evil eye, and that which would ruin the harvest.
ReplyDeleteGreek and Roman Mythology are filled with symbols of fertility. I would recommend the book Greek and Roman Mythology by Kirk Summers.
Priapus, a fertility god. Look him up. If he is not a symbol of fertility, then I don't know who is. He is known for his enormous, permanently-erect penis (priapism, anyone? That's where the term comes from).
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