Adonis | Victoria Olt

2020

Handmade watercolor on paper.

4.7 x 17.7 in
30,5 x 45 cm + frame included for free in shipments within Estonia

} Adonis {

Aphrodite cursed Myrrha to fall in love with her father, the king of Syria. Myrrha tricked her father to conceive Adonis and when his father found out, he tried to kill both himself and Myrrha. Myrrha pleaded with the Gods and in their mercy, Myrrha was turned into a Myrrh tree. In this tree-form she gave birth to Adonis.

Adonis possessed exceptional beauty, so much so that Aphrodite fell in love with him. She took him under her protection and tasked Persephone to raise him. As he grew more handsome, Persephone also fell in love with Adonis and refused to return him to Aphrodite. Zeus had to step in to settle the dispute and it was agreed that Adonis would spend 1/3 of the year with Aphrodite, another 1/3 with Persephone and the rest of the year he could spend with whomever he wished.

Ares became jealous over Aphrodite and sent a wild boar to kill Adonis. Adonis bled to death in Aphrodite’s arms and as she cried Anemone grew from her tears.