Inspiration: the goddess Flora and Floralia festival

Floralia, 1898 Hobbe Smith

Did you know that in the antique roman times, in these days the Floralia festival was celebrated? It was a six days festival dedicated to Flora, the goddess of Spring, flowers and buds.

In the first five days, theatrical performances took place. In particular, they were farces and mimes where even women were allowed to act, and often the actresses did the so called “nudatio mimarum”, the ancestor of the modern “striptease”!

The last day was dedicated to games and spectacles at the Circus, involving the hunting of domestic herbivorous animals such as goats and hares.

At the end, there was an offer to Flora, spreading seeds to propitiate fertility and good harvests.

People were allowed to wear colourful clothing instead of white, and floral adornments in their hair. There was a lot of dancing, eating and drinking!

It was an unbridled and licentious festival, full of amusements, music and pleasures, celebrating fertility and the rebirth of nature in Spring.

Flora is one of the most antique goddesses, dating back to italic populations and then to antique romans.

She is the goddess of spring and youth, queen of flowers, grains and vineyards, as well as all the plantations that provided food. Protector of the luxuriant vegetation and the rebirth of nature, she’s a deity inviting to pleasure and love towards the earth. Her Greek counterpart is Chloris.

Fun fact: the foundation of the city of Florence, the “Florentia Romana”, is dedicated to Flora!

Flora and the Zephyrs, 1898, J.W. Waterhouse (found here on Flickr)

Flora and the Zephyrs (detail) 1898, J.W. Waterhouse (found here on Flickr)

Flora, 1890, J.W. Waterhouse

Flora, 1891, J.W. Waterhouse

Primavera (detail) about 1478-1482, Sandro Botticelli

Primavera, detail of Flora, about 1478-1482, Sandro Botticelli

Flora, or Primavera, a fresco from first hald of 1st century, found in Villa Arianna during the archaeological digs in the ancient city of Stabiae (now Castellammare di Stabia)

{My jewellery pieces comes to life thanks to many different inspirations: art, history, mythology, nature, Mother Earth, astronomy, astrology, spirituality... in a very personal mix that nourishes mind and soul, and brings my artisanal ornaments to life, full of magic and inner secrets}