The Silent Symbol: A Look at “Sub Rosa”

Have you ever heard the phrase:

“sub rosa”

which literally translates to “under the rose” in Latin, but its meaning goes beyond a fancy way to describe a rose garden.

“Sub rosa” is actually a secret handshake with history, whispering tales of confidentiality and trust.

The rose isn’t just a symbol of love and beauty. In ancient times, it became associated with secrecy. Legend has it that in Greece, roses were placed on dining tables as a silent pact that conversations wouldn’t leave the room. This tradition is believed to have stemmed from a myth where Cupid, the mischievous god of love, gifted a rose to Harpocrates, the god of silence, to ensure the secrecy of his mother Venus’s (Aphrodite in Greek) amorous escapades.

Fast forward to medieval Europe, and “sub rosa” found its place in legal and political conversations.

Council chambers and confessionals were often adorned with rose carvings, a constant reminder that what transpired within those walls remained confidential.

Even today, “sub rosa” lives on, used to describe something kept secret or shared in confidence.

It speaks volumes about the power of symbols and how ancient myths can shape the language we use centuries later.

So, the next time you encounter a rose, remember – it might not just be beautiful, it could be a secret waiting to be unveiled!