Saturday, February 5, 2011

Thing a Day 2011, Days 4 and 5


Opened Pomegranate Acrylic on Paper 4"x 5 1/2"

Day 4 I had limited time so just did a small painting of a single pomegranate that had been opened and some seeds had spilled out.  In Jewish tradition the pomegranate symbolizes righteousnes because of the saying that there are 613 seeds in a pomegranate and 613 commandments in Jewish law.  Greek mythology tells the story of Persephone being abducted by Hades and taken to the underworld to be his wife.  Her mother Demeter eventually was able to bring her back.  But if the rule was that if someone ate anything in the underworld they couldn't leave.  Persephone had been tricked into eating some pomegranate seeds.  Some stories say 3 seeds, some 6.  So she was compelled to return to Hades for the same  number of months as seeds that she had eaten.  This became a legend of how we got our seasons.  Pretty important little seeds.  I just love how jewel like they are.


Day 5 I have a crow pulling apart a pomegranate and feasting on seeds.  And perhaps she'll share them.

2 comments:

  1. I am really enjoying your two themes. I am learning and also seeing your beautiful work.

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  2. Thanks, Mary. I found this great book at the library entitled In the Company of Crows and Ravens and am learning so much about the myths and stories that have been told since earliest history. One of the things that has been coming up in my readings there and elsewhere is how many flood stories there are.

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