Adonis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adonis |
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| God of beauty, desire and vegetation | |
"The Death of Adonis"
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| Abode | Lebanon |
| Symbol | anemones, as well as lettuce, fennel, and other fast-growing plants |
| Personal information | |
| Spouse | Aphrodite |
| Children | Golgos, Beroe |
| Parents | Cinyras and Myrrha (by Ovid), Phoenix and Alphesiboea (by Hesiod) |
Adonis was a very handsome young man in Greek mythology. He was the special friend of the goddess Aphrodite. His name comes from an old word from the Canaanite people, which means "lord."
Aphrodite found Adonis when he was a baby. She gave him to Persephone, who was the queen of the Underworld, to raise him. As Adonis grew up, he became incredibly good-looking. Both Aphrodite and Persephone wanted him to be with them.
Zeus, the king of the gods, had to step in. He decided that Adonis would spend one-third of the year with Persephone in the Underworld. He would spend another third of the year with Aphrodite. For the last third of the year, Adonis could choose where he wanted to be. Adonis chose to spend his extra time with Aphrodite.
The Death of Adonis
One day, Adonis was out hunting. A wild boar attacked him and hurt him badly. He died in Aphrodite's arms while she cried. Her tears mixed with his blood. From this mix, the beautiful anemone flower grew.
To remember Adonis and his sad death, Aphrodite started a festival. It was called the Adonia festival. Women celebrated it every year in the middle of summer.
Adonis River
The Abraham River in Lebanon used to be called the Adonis River. People said that during the Adonia festival, the river would turn red. This was believed to be Adonis's blood.
Images for kids
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An ancient Sumerian picture of the marriage of Inanna and Dumuzid.
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A piece of an old Greek vase. It shows women carrying "gardens of Adonis" to their rooftops.
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The Adonis River (now the Abraham River) in Lebanon. It was said to turn red each year.
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Venus and Cupid lamenting the dead Adonis (1656) by Cornelis Holsteyn.
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Death of Adonis (1684–1686) by Luca Giordano.
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The Death of Adonis (Mazzuoli) (1709) by Giuseppe Mazzuoli.
See also
In Spanish: Adonis para niños
