Goddess Flora by Jan Brueghel the Elder & Peter Paul Rubens, 1617

Flora and Zephyr, by Jan Brueghel the Elder and Peter Paul Rubens, 1617

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, the last 3 days of April  & the first 3 days of May. The festival consisted of games  & theatrical performances. Chariot races  & circus games took place  & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The Romans walked around holding bouquets of flowers or wore wreaths of flowers around their neck or in their hair.

See:

 Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

 Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

 H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

 William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

19C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Gustave Jean Jacquet (French artist, 1846-1909) Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Nicolas de Largillierre (French, 1656 - 1746) - Porträt der Marquise de Gueydan  as The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908) 

18C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Nicolas de Largillierre (French, 1656 - 1746) - Portrait Of Françoise D'Escravayat, Marquise De La Barrière as The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

18C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Nicolas de Largillierre (French, 1656 - 1746) - Marie Therese Bloneldharau  as The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908) 

18C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Jean-Marc Nattier (1685-1766) - Louise Anne de Bourbon Comtesse de Charolais 1731as The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908) 

18C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Nicolas de Largillierre (French, 1656 - 1746) - Marie Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans as The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

18C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Jean-Marc Nattier (1685-1766) - Henriette of France as The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

1685-90 Lady as The Goddess Flora, by Jan van Haesbergen

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908) 

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

18C Rosalba Carriera (Italian artist, 1675-1757) The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Pierre Gobert (1662-1744)  - Retrato de Noiva as The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Juan van der Hamen y (Gómez de) León (1596-1631) - Offering for Flora, 1627

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

3 Rather Proper Mythical Goddesses Flora - Symbols of Spring by Rembrandt (1606-1669)

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) - Portrait of Hendrickje Stofells as Goddess Flora

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) - Portrait of Saskia as Goddess Flora

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) - Portrait of Saskia as Goddess Flora

In Rome, her festival, the Floralia, was held between April 28 and May 3 and symbolized the renewal of the cycle of life, drinking, and flowers. The festival was first instituted in 240 B.C.E, and on the advice of the Sibylline books, she was also given a temple in 238 B.C.E. At the festival, with the men decked in flowers, and the women wearing normally forbidden gay costumes, five days of farces and mimes were enacted – ithyphallic, and including nudity when called for – followed by a sixth day of the hunting of goats and hares. On May 23 another (rose) festival was held in her honor.  

Flora's Greek equivalent is Chloris, who was a nymph. 

According to myth, Flora is married to Favonius, the wind god also known as Zephyr, and her companion was Hercules.  It is possible that Flora achieved more prominence in the neo-pagan revival of Antiquity among Renaissance humanists than she had enjoyed in ancient Rome.

See:

 Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

 Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

 H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

 William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

18C Rosalba Carriera (Italian artist, 1675-1757) The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Justus Sustermans (Flemish painter, 1597-1681) Vittoria della Rovere, Grand Duchess of Tuscany as the Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

1630s Claude Vignon (1593-1670)  - Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908) 

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

1620 Cornelis van Poelenburgh, (1594-1667) Woman Portrayed as Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Justus Sustermans (Flemish painter, 1597-1681) Vittoria della Rovere, Grand Duchess of Tuscany as the Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

15C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Detail of Flora from Primavera by Botticelli, c. 1482

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

Palm Sunday - Jesus Entering Jerusalem as The Messiah

Assisi frescoes Entry into Jerusalem by Pietro Lorenzetti ca. 1280 – 1348

On Palm Sunday, Christians celebrate the Lord's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem for Passover, where he was welcomed by crowds worshiping him & laying down palm leaves before him. The Galileans, the pilgrim crowd, acclaimed Jesus, & the local Judeans did not. By Palm Sunday, many of the Jews were filled with rage for Jesus. In Bethany, he raised Lazarus from the dead, a miracle which won Him renown among certain Pharisees. 

Jesus took refuge at Ephrem - returning 6 days before Passover to Bethany, & triumphantly entered Jerusalem. That evening, He left Jerusalem & returned Monday. He spent time with Gentiles in the Temple, & on Wednesday He left for the Mount of Olives. Here He told the apostles of the events of the next several days, including His impending death. He returned to Jerusalem on Thursday, to share the Last Supper with His apostles. He was subsequently arrested & tried. He was crucified at Calvary on Friday, outside the gates of Jerusalem. He was buried the same day, & arose three days later, on Easter Sunday.

Passover was only 4 days away, when Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem that year.  He entered the city on the 10th day of the month.  Exodus 12:3, 5-6, says, Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house.. . ..Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.