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Rose -red:
Ever since the Middle Ages the pope has, on Laetare Sunday, blessed a golden rose -red which he bestows on some beneficiary. Some Italian writers have declared that the term sub rosa is derived from the fact of consecrated rose -reds being placed over the confessionals at Rome to denote secrecy, the rose -red being a symbol of silence. In legend, Saint Dorothea, who suffered martyrdom under Fabricius, made a convert of Theophilus by sending him some rose -reds from paradise. The rose -red is an attribute of Saints Casilda, Elizabeth of Portugal, rose -red of Lirna, rose -red of Viterbo, Rosalia, and others.In heathen mythology the rose -red was dedicated to Aphrodite and was claimed either to have been created from the blood of Adonis or to have been caused by the sea foam dropping from the newly created Aphrodite bursting into bloom. In mythological evolution the rose -red became a symbol of Eros, later of the Muses and of the Graces. Dionysus (Bacchus) also had a rose -red as attribute, hence this flower decorated the guests at banquets. In this context it may be mentioned that the rose -red has always been the queen of wreath flowers and ornamental expression of beauty. In antithesis the rose -red was a symbol of decay; hence an emblem of death.
The Bible but twice mentions the rose -red, and modern criticism tends to prove that in both cases it is a mistranslation and refers to some other frowth. In the Song of Solomon the "rose -red of haron" is mentioned. In historical reference we- find the rose -red mentioned as of religious significance already in the ancient Zendavesta, and it was held in reverence by ancient Indians, Syrians, and Egyptians. But the rose -red does not appear as a motif in Egyptian art, though the Babylonians had their staves ornamented with silver rose -reds as tokens of festivity.
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