Sandro Botticelli: "Venus and Mars." The painting shows Venus resting
contentedly. Little satyrs honk horns and play about
Mars, as he sleeps, unaware.
Click on image for full size
Image courtesy of the Trustees, The National Gallery, London.
Mars and Venus
Mars was the god of War. He loved violence and battle.
According to Homer, even Jupiter, the father of Mars,
recognized his son's bad attitude, saying to him in
frustration one day, "Of all the gods of Olympus I find
you the most unpleasant and unlikeable, for you enjoy
nothing but violence, war and battles. You have a
stubborn and mean disposition." The love of Mars
was Venus, in
whose arms he found peace. If ever the saying that opposites
attract needed proof, the love affair between Venus and Mars
was it. Their offspring was the beautiful goddess Harmonia.
It is interesting to note that the mythological offspring of
Rage and Love is Harmony?!
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