I know that sub rosa means "in secret" or "confidentially." The online AHD says that it comes from the practice of hanging a rose over a meeting as a symbol of confidentiality. Does anyone know how that symbol came about?This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kalleh,
Cupid gave Harpoc’rates (the god of silence) a rose, to bribe him not to betray the amours of Venus. Hence the flower became the emblem of silence. It was for this reason sculptured on the ceilings of banquet-rooms, to remind the guests that what was spoken sub vino was not to be uttered sub divo.
But why a rose? And if this is so famous a story, why have I never heard of Harpoc’rates? (And by the way, what's 'sub divo'?)
February 24, 2005, 03:58
arnie
According to Wikipedia, Harpocrates was the Greek version of the young Egyptian god Horus.
quote:
Harpocrates, the child Horus, personifies the first strength of the winter sun, and also the image of early vegetation. Egyptian statues represent the child Horus, pictured as a naked boy with his finger on his mouth, a realization of the hieroglyph for "child" that is unrelated to the Greco-Roman and modern gesture for "silence". Misunderstanding this sign, the later Greeks and Roman poets made Harpocrates the god of Silence and Secrecy.
Sub divo literally means "under god", but by transference, "under the sky", or "in the open air".
Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.