Classicists! Who is the God of Gardeners?

16 years ago

I was just wondering. For some reason I was running through the Olympians, their relationships and the humans under their protection, and I couldn't call to mind a deity patron of gardeners, or of farmers, for that matter. Or perhaps I forgot the gentle sex: is it Demeter? I'm not talking about fertility gods like Priapus, but perhaps he is the right one.

Also, does anyone happen to know of a good book about the developent of the religions of Greece and Rome in the classical era? I don't mean the stories of the myths, interesting though they are, but a history? I know this is off-topic, but thought I might throw in the question.

Thanks.

Melissa

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Comments (14)

rjlinva
16 years ago
Melissa,
I did a research project on Priapus...he'd have my vote. He was the god who protected gardens from intruders..and, I got the feeling that the gardens he protected were those gardens for enjoyment (i.e., rose gardens) rather than those utility gardens (i.e., farmers). Robert
mariannese
16 years ago
Priapus may live on in the garden gnome with his red cap.

Flora and Pomona were Roman goddesses of the garden, one specializing in flowers, the other in fruit. Pomona's attribute was a pruning knife so she should be the obvious choice of a patron for rosarians. Chloris is the Greek Flora. Roman Ceres and Greek Demeter are goddesses of agriculture.

I have three small terracotta plaques of Demeter. In the Greek island of Aegina most older houses have such moulded plaques in the four corners of the flat roof.
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mkrkmr
16 years ago
Vertumnus is another Roman god of gardens, who fell in love with Pomona.
devon_in_the_garden
16 years ago
One thing is for sure, the Greek Goddess Aphrodite, or for the Romans, Venus,
is the Goddess Of Roses.
Molineux
16 years ago
Demeter (Ceres) is the goddess of agriculture, so I'd start with her.

Dionysus (Bacchus) is her male counterpart, god of wine and vegetation.

Chloris (Flora) is a the goddess of spring and flowers.

Roses are sacred to Aphrodite (Venus) and Eros (Cupid), both deities who govern desire and love.
cindi
16 years ago
I just had to pop in here. I know the Goddess of Roses. I win!!! I know I do without a doubt.

Its Pamela Rose. I got her! Named her. When I saw photos of Pam's "Flora" I never stopped hunting her until I found her. Named her after the orginal Pam..Medencino Rose. She calls her Flora. Its fine. But I just can not picture another Goddess of Roses besides Pam. Besides. Flora is of all flowers. Pam is the Goddess of Roses.

Sure was a bit hard finding this photo. Lots are on my computer at home but robbing photos is a bit hard now days. (guess that good) She sure is all over the internet though.

{{gwi:220182}}

Here is mine. Lane loves her. Gaint trees fell in front, sides and back of her. She was not hurt. Lane fell in love with her instantly.
{{gwi:220183}}

Cynthia...me thinks means Moon Goddess.......Lights up the gardens..I still do not recognize that name on DL.
Wonder if they make a statue of a Cynthia Moon Goddess. Maybe it was just something my mom told me to try and make be like the name Cynthia.
dublinbay z6 (KS)
16 years ago
I found this interesting tidbit of info.

Roses are the sacred flower of Artemis and Aphrodite. The rose is carved on Artemis statues alternately with bees and at the birth of Aphrodite from the sea, where the sea foam fell onto the beach it turned into roses.

I've always been partial to Artemis.

By the way, the Greek equivalent of Flora is Persephone--she is the returning flowers in the spring. I like her Greek name better.

Kate
carolfm
16 years ago
Oh my goodness, there's Cindi! Hey Cindi. I've missed you. I love your statue and I think you may be right, Pamela just may be the Goddess of Roses. Looking forward to seeing you in California!

Sorry for the interruption, Melissa. Carry on everybody!

Carol
oath5
16 years ago
Many gods overlap in terms of what they govern over, especially when the Greek gods were adopted by the Romans.

Cynthia is another name for the Greek goddess Artemis, who is associated with the moon!

Don't forget the Limoniads and Meliads, they were nymphs of meadows and flowers, much like the Dryads, who were the keepers of trees.

Has anyone seen Alphonse Mucha's series of flower-girl prints? They should have made statutes to go along with them.

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2663/mucha8ya8.jpg

That is rose. I have nice copies of the rest of the series if anybody would like to see them.

Max
organic_tosca
16 years ago
What a nice conversation!
barbarag_happy
16 years ago
Based on some of the experiences I've had, I think Pan rules over gardens. Sometimes I swear I can hear him laughing..
Embothrium
16 years ago
The gnome represents Priapus because it has a red, firm and pointed top? That's the only inference I'm getting.
melissa_thefarm
Original Author
16 years ago
I'm enjoying all this, too!

I don't know why Flora doesn't satisfy me, perhaps because she calls to mind only flowers (florist's shop) while soil is so important in the garden. 'Flora' calls up prim and pallid Pre-Raphaelite and Jugendstill images in my doubtless prejudiced mind. Perhaps it's I who need to rethink matters.

I like the idea of a garden filled with Meliads and Dryads, the name of the former, I'll bet, related to my own ('Melissa' means honeybee in Greek, and contains the root meaning honey, 'mel' or 'meli', like Italian 'miele', honey.) Thanks, Max, the nymphs of meadows and flowers were new to me. I do have a notion that Pan and Priapus are lurking in my garden as well.

Italian has separate words for vegetable and ornamental gardens: 'orto', from the Latin 'hortus'; and 'giardino', of Germanic origin, related to the words 'garden' and 'yard'. The Germanic base word is itself related to the Latin 'hortus'.

Last year I bought a dictionary of classical mythology, and now and then enjoy myself--like yesterday--thumbing through it. This is so much fun! I think a sunny classical excursion is what we all need this time of year.

Melissa
mariannese
16 years ago
Melissa, according to Wikipedia, the priestesses of Ceres were addressed by the title "Melissa".

Classicists! Who is the God of Gardeners?

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rjlinva

mariannese

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Classicists! Who is the God of Gardeners?

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