'R' IS FOR ROSE

The rose as symbol of love is well-known. It was sacred to Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty, and carried the message of "I love you" from sender to receiver, something every Valentine knows.

However, it is also used as a sign of silence and secrecy. The words sub rosa "under the rose" refer to the demand for discretion whenever a rose was hung from the ceiling at a meeting - hence the ceiling roses of Victorian homes. In the Mysteries roses were sacred to Isis. It is also the flower of her son Harpocrates or younger Horus, the god of silence.

This post is part of the ABC Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.