The Isis Rose

Am I the ancient one?

Jon

Isis, Rose of the World
Isis, Rosa Mundi

Linda Iles, ArchDrs., Prs.H., GDC, SA

Part I. Isis and the Rose in the Ancient World

“…Behold, she is like Sothis …” Papyrus Chester Beatty 31, “The Stroll,” New Kingdom

Of all the flowers, the rose is a singular example of a natural form that has been included in the symbolism of many cultures, spiritual traditions and folklore throughout the centuries. This flower has been intricately connected to our ideas of love and beauty and as such has enjoyed an association with several Goddesses, among them are Inanna, Ishtar, Aphrodite, Venus, Lakshmi, Chloris, Cybele, Flora, Demeter, Astarte, Aurora, and Hecate. The rose also has associations with a few Gods, Cupid, Dionysius, Eros, Mars and Bacchus.

There is one other Deity who came to have a deep connection to the symbolism of the rose, and that is…