Artist: Dante Gabriel Rossetti (English, 1828â1882)
Date: 1864â1868
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Dorset, England
Description
The title of the painting refers to a quotation from the Roman poet Ovid, who describes one of Venusâ attributes as being able to assist Roman women to turn their hearts towards virtue and modesty. This does seem somewhat contradictory for such a heavily sensual and sexual image, but perhaps it is a warning of the dangers of sexual obsession.
The painting is heavy in symbolism. Venus is surrounded by flowers, the roses represent love, while the honeysuckle symbolizes sexual desire and lust. The golden fruit may be seen as the fruit that tempted Eve and led to Adamâs downfall in the Garden of Eden. Alternatively, it may be interpreted as the Apple of Discord from the Greek myth of the Judgement of Paris. In both stories, the presence of a tempting fruit in the company of a beautiful women leads to the downfall and death of men.
Venus points Cupidâs arrow at her own breast to show how she will inflict its power over others. A blue bird in the top right corner foretells doom. The moths or butterflies drawn to the light of Venusâ halo, only to perish, illustrate the brevity of life. There is a golden aura around her head, her hair is long and flaming red. A hair colouring favoured by Rossetti, the other Pre-Raphaelites and their followers. Red hair was chosen because of its rarity, and associations with excessive emotions for example sexual desire.
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In honor of being a "delulu Jonsa shipper" and because our beloved "JON and SANSA both failed geography" I wanted to give you all a gift for Valentine's Day, with some "sweethearts" and Cupid's Arrow.
.....using GEOGRAPHY
This is how crazy I get and how far I go with the JONSA Ship. I leave no stone unturned. I took the MAP of Westeros (note: not all maps are equal; I prefer this one) and I drew lots and lots of lines (and also circles with a math compass) all over it and I thought that you would enjoy a little "happy accident" that came from drawing just one line from one point on the map to another point:
POINT A -- THE TOWER of JOY (where Jon Snow was born)
TO
POINT B -- WINTERFELL (to where Ned Stark brought baby Jon)
...the RED LINE passes by many places, BUT GOES STRAIGHT THROUGH:
ASHFORD & ASHFORD MEADOW----&---- OLDSTONES
... and one side of THE TWINS (this one feeds my current Jonsa delusions)
....and because Dan & Dave are the ones that wrote that "Jon and Sansa both failed geography," I decided to look at real-world-geography too.
....because,...Brandon STARK knows HIS GEOGRAPHY
...his MAeSTER LuWIN taught him first, and then BLOODRAVEN taught him ALL of Westeros' Family HISTORY
....and because Dan & Dave probably KNOW their JEW-ISH GEOGRAPHY and their Jewish FAMILY HISTORY
I had this CRAZY thought that MAYBE George R.R. Martin was not only writing a story based on the War of the Roses, but that also just maybe it was a RE-telling of the Birth of Jesus Christ because George grew up Catholic, and that religion was a big part of the War of the Roses too, only, maybe George is twisting the narrative. My current "delusion" with the Jonsa pairing is that I believe there is a baby in the future for Jon and Sansa (possibly twins too), and I already had a theory of others "who would become involved" in helping keep the child safe, and "where they would go" with the child, and very quickly after I started DRAWING RED LINES and CONNECTING DOTS on MAPS, it just confirmed and validated my delulu jonsa theories. (confirmation bias)
A MAP of SAMARIA, GALILEE, and JUDAEA (and the HOUSE of ISRAEL)
...and Joseph and Mary's Journey to Egypt to ESCAPE the WRATH of King Herod Augustus
...and here are some lyrics to a Christmas SONG....
"Do you see what I see?"
Samaria and Galilee
SAM-ARyA and GALiLy???
SAM + ARYA together with a GAL named GILLy???
....that is the STRANGEST SHIP I've EVER SEEN!!!!! A THREEsome????
...and they BOTH are farther away from Judaea
--------JU-DAE-A-------
JUn or .....Jon???? .....and DAE-nA .....or Dany...or Dae-nerys???
That share a HOUSEâŠ.the SAME HOUSEâŠ
The HOUSE of ISRAEL
âŠ.or is it the house of IS-RhAE-L????? âŠâŠor IS-RhAE-GAL??? âŠ. or IS-itâŠ.. Rhaegar????
What the f*ck is GRRM doing with his characters?????
...just some more names found on the MAP of Samaria and Galilee and Judaea that are eerily similar to asoiaf character names:
my current Jonsa delusion is that there is a hidden JONSA baby written in and woven in the story.
(if aeg*ny/jon*rys ship could have a "boatbaby" theory, why can't I?
A jonsa baby theory, with that baby going somewhere ON a BOAT, with Arya and Gilly)
My theory is that the two-baby-switches that happen in the books and who are involved in the switching-schemes have to be important for something in the future, and Jon Snow is the one who sends Gilly and Sam away, making Gilly take The-King-beyond-the-Wall's son away from a fire-crazy-lady, Melisandre, and Gilly having to leave her son with Val. The other baby-switch involves Jon Snow's half-brother Aegon, and their father's close friend JON CONNINGTON. (I think it is really funny that his name makes me think "a-con-on-Jon" or "Conning-Jon.")
My theory was that Arya, with Gilly, would be taking a secret-Targaryen-baby WEST of Westeros, and I even had theories that they would take The Roseroad down to either Oldtown and leave from there, or hop on the river The Mandar at BITTERBRIDGE (formerly known as STONEBRIDGE), and leave Westeros from The Mouth of the Mander at Brightwater Bay.
---asoiaf wiki---"According to legend, Septon Mattheus's opulent wheelhouse passed Septon Barth, who was riding a donkey, at Bitterbridge in 50 AC. King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and Queen Alysanne Targaryen landed at Bitterbridge with their dragons, Vermithor and Silverwing, during their journey to Oldtown in 54 AC."---
So, for me, to see Sam+Arya with Gilly on top on a Real-WORLD-map, I just kept on digging in my rabbit hole.
I have been drawing circles ALL OVER the MAP of Westeros, and it only fuels my delusions.
I used Torrhen's SQUARE as the Center for the northern part of Westeros and drew a circle through East-Watch-by-the-Sea (where Sam and Gilly left with Maester Aemon, Dareon the singer, and Mance Rayder's son)
&
Then I used the GOD's EYE as the center for the south and drew a Circle through OLDTOWN, which was where they were headed.
It's REALLY close, but it doesn't quite hit the mark.
HOWEVER, they STOPPED in BRAAVOS on their way to Oldtown!
So, I used BRAAVOS as the Center and drew a Circle through OLDTOWN, and BOOM! it went right through where I thought Arya & Gilly would be going first.
(note: ARYA crosses paths with Sam and Gilly at the Sweetwater River in Braavos, and she ends up killing Dareon.)
...and I believe that my delulu jonsa baby will be conceived at Winterfell, and then return there, after my imaginary jonsa baby is swept away on a journey to "prevent it from being slaughtered by "Mad Queen" HEROD."
So, I used the GOD's EYE as the Center and drew a Circle through WINTERFELL. And there it was!!! X marks the Spot! The LONELY ISLANDS.
...DROP ME a NOTE or LOVE LETTER...or...?QUESTIONS?....
with YOUR NAME please or STAY anonymous
-If you have NO INTEREST and would like to be left alone and out of my crazy delusional trivial pursuit of a JONSA baby that you don't think is there, just DROP a NOTE in the ASK BOX with your NAME with a simple:
"NO MORE PLEASE, TAKE ME OFF YOUR LIST. I HAVE NO INTEREST."
...and I will kindly leave you alone in the future. I don't want to annoy anyone, specifically my favorite people here who I follow, and who have contributed to my JONSA obsession.
If you are Interested and want to see how much more crazy and delusional I will get, just DROP a NOTE with your name:
"Count me in!"
To everyone I follow in my JONSA FAMILY:
--Thank you for all your lovely efforts and contributions to the Jonsa ship over the years, and hope you had a Happy Valentine's Day!
This was all for fun, and hope it put a smile on your face, or just made you laugh. I'm delusionally serious about it, but you don't have to be.
--I hope everyone won't have to travel too far to a movie theatre to see The Dreadful movie. I'll be wearing a big red clown nose, so I won't be recognized!
Here is a LOVE Song: Ricky Nelson -I Will Follow You
(For anyone else who has read all the way to the end and is reading this now: This is my crazy delusion, and I don't need to be told how "stupid" I am or "you're a clown" for even trying to work out GRRM's crazy puzzles. I am well aware that what I am doing in my spare time is ridiculous, and this is how I "clown around" in my JONSA "CLOWN SHOES")
â-yours & truly delusionalđ„
P.S. <---------<<< Jonsa baby is here, and I believe that he left from the Mouth of the Mander River X --- and that he will RETURN to Westeros at SEA DRAGON POINT X
Sweethearts --The Lonely Islands & Oldstones
The asoiaf character's that led me on this delusional hidden treasure hunt on the Westerosi Map are listed below:
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summary:Â Thereâs no such thing as Cupidâs arrow. But fortunately for you and Osamu, you both have Atsumu. (OR: how Atsumu decided to play matchmaker for you and Osamu.)
warnings:Â minors/ageless/blank blogs dni, pure fluff, bad dating stories, best friend!tsumu, reader is really going through it â what a champ, reader is really just trying their best, but it's ok bc you and osamu are destined for happiness and marital bliss, atsumu for best wingman 2023 (but like a sneaky little wingman who uses underhanded tricks)
notes:Â wanted to start a little drabble series about platonic!reader and osamu's relationship but told from atsumu's POV so here we are. this can definitely be read on its own though.
words: 1.6k
part of the Meet the Miyas series
Atsumu would find your misfortune in dating funny if there wasnât so much of it. Actually, thatâs not true. He still finds it funny. How could he not?
âAtsumu! That guy I went on a date with? He sneezed in my face and didnât even apologize!â
âYou know that guy I just started seeing? It turns out he has a wife and a girlfriend! They found out about each other and confronted him while we were on a date. Didnât you see the video I posted? It's going viral!â
âSo I thought it was a date, but actually he was trying to recruit me to his pyramid scheme.â
âOh my god. This guy was so annoying. He wouldnât stop fooling around with the ball at mini-golf and I ended up getting hit. Anyway, long story short the doctor said I have a scratch on my cornea and have to use these eye drops for the next few days.â
While the stories never get old, he does feel bad for you. Youâre his best friend after all. These scrubs that youâve been going out with donât even deserve a second glance from you, let alone an entire date.Â
And so finally, after hearing about your latest misadventure in single life (âOh, can you cover dinner? That guy I went out for drinks with yesterday stole my wallet.â), Atsumu decides itâs not just his duty to step in as your closest friend, but his duty as a decent person.Â
âSamu, whenâs the last time ya went out on a date?â he asks his brother the next time that he sees him, only to receive the most uninterested look in response.
âDonât get involved in my love life,â he firmly warns the setter with narrowed eyes and Atsumu scoffs with a roll of his eyes.
âWhat love life? Yer married to onigiri!â he cries as he points an accusatory finger directly at said onigiri in Osamuâs hand.Â
Heâs honestly surprised that Osamu doesnât throw it in his face with how annoyed he now looks, but he also knows the chef would never waste Kitaâs rice like that.Â
âI could get a date if I wanted. I donât need yer help,â he insists.
âDuh, you have my face even if yer missinâ my amazing hair and personality.â When his cocky grin is met with a flat look, Atsumu realizes he might need to go for a different approach â the caring, earnest, brotherly approach. âLook, I know someone I think yaâd really like.â
âOh, yeah? Who?â The question is asked with mocking disbelief, as if thereâs no universe where Atsumu could successfully play matchmaker for his brother.Â
Heâs only too happy to prove him wrong, so when says your name, itâs with smug pride. He prepares himself for the bounty of gratitude that Osamu is about to shower him with.
Only, that doesnât happen. His brother scoffs and turns his attention fully back to his onigiri, dismissing the idea of going on a date with you entirely. Atsumu canât help but feel a prickle of offense on your behalf (and his own).Â
âHey! Sheâs a real catch, yâknow!â he cries out. And itâs true.Â
Youâre smart, youâre successful, youâre funny, and you both always have the best time when you hang out together. And while heâs reluctant to admit it because he never likes to think of you in that way, youâre also attractive. He knows his brother isnât blind to it either.Â
The two of you have only met a few times in passing since heâs known you, but Atsumuâs eyes are too sharp from years of volleyball to have missed how Osamuâs gaze tends to linger on your ass just a bit longer than is polite. He knows pointing that out would not go well.
âSheâs the one doinâ me the favor by agreeinâ to go out with a scrub like you,â he continues to argue. But, itâs that part that isnât entirely true.Â
You actually have no idea that Atsumu is trying to meddle in your dating life. However, thatâs something he can easily deal with once heâs convinced Osamu to take you out. While he would never call you desperate, at least not to your face, at this point youâll go out on a date with anyone. Itâs his brother thatâs the real hurdle in this scheme.
âYa want me to date yer best friend?â Osamu asks slowly.Â
âYeah, whatâs so crazy about that?â he frowns.
âFirst, Iâd never get ya out of my life if that happened,â he says blandly and continues over Atsumuâs squawk of protest. âBesides, thereâs gotta be somethinâ wrong with her if she willingly chooses to spend so much time with ya.â
âLook, would it kill ya to go on just one date?â He doesnât mention that if things go according to plan, it wonât be just one date. Itâll be a lifetime of happiness for the two most important people in his life. But thatâs something that he doesnât think Osamu would find as compelling as he does.Â
âThe restaurant ainât gonna burn down or anything just cause ya spend a couple of hours outside of it. All yer riceâll still be here when ya get back.â
Osamu gives him the dirtiest look, but then, after a long moment, he sighs heavily and Atsumu knows that heâs cleared the first hurdle. All he has to do is clear the next one. Thankfully itâs much lower. Â
âHey, I got someone I wanna set ya up with.â
âWho?â Just as he expected, you immediately sound interested and willing.Â
âSamu.â
Thereâs a long pause and he begins to worry that the low hurdle that he needs to clear is actually higher than he anticipated.Â
âYour brother?â you finally ask, your expression wrinkling with confusion.
âYeah. Why? Whatâs the big deal?â Now heâs the one confused as he watches your small frown begin to grow a little deeper.
âI donât know. Isnât it kind ofâŠweird?â Your hesitancy towards going out with Osamu is a least a lot more gentle than Osamuâs was towards you. âYou guys are identical twins. You have the same face and everything. Wouldnât it be like dating you?â
Thereâs a hint of disgust in your tone and he would be offended if he didnât feel the same way about the notion of dating you.
âYou could only be so lucky,â he says with a snort before deciding that heâll have to pull out the caring, earnest, brotherly approach once again. âPlease? Iâm worried if he doesnât go out with someone soon then heâs just gonna spend the rest of his life alone with his onigiri.âÂ
This is yet another half-truth that he has to tell in this scheme. Because while he does sometimes think that Osamuâs on the path to becoming a hermit, heâs way more concerned about you. With the way things are going for you, one day heâs going to get a call about how some scumbag that youâre in love with emptied your bank account and ran off in the middle of the night.Â
But the half-truth seems to work because pity momentarily flashes across your face. He just needs to push a little bit more.
âIâm not supposed to say anything, but he asked if he thought he had a shot with ya,â he sighs, trying to sound reluctant, like heâs had no choice but to reveal this made-up secret. And what can it hurt? Itâs just another white lie.
âHe did?â You sound baffled rather than flattered and he hopes you canât see the spike of panic that he feels. âWhat brought that on? I havenât even seen him in forever.â
âHe saw yer thirst trap on Instagram,â he blurts out to distract you and he breathes a sigh of relief when you gasp at the accusation.
âI told you! It wasnât a thirst trap! I genuinely wanted to know if that outfit was appropriate for a work event!â you whine pathetically.
âOkay, yeah. Sure,â he scoffs and rolls his eyes. âNothing says business like a shirt unbuttoned so low that your hot-pink bra peeks out.â
You open your mouth to protest your innocence but Atsumu cuts you off before the argument can really get started. The mission here is to ensure yours and Osamuâs eternal happiness and he intends to see success.
âLook, you deserve someone who treats ya right,â he offers, sincerity shining through in his words and expression. âSamuâs a good guy. I trust him with ya.â
âI donât knowâŠâ you trail off, sounding much less firm in your reservations than only a few minutes before.
âRemind me what happened on yer last date?âÂ
You look away from him with a petulant frown.
ââŠhe ordered his food to go and then left me at the restaurant,â you mutter under your breath.
He raises an eyebrow as if that says it all â which it does. You just roll your eyes with a huff.
âFine!â you relent, throwing your hands up in the air before pointing a firm finger in his direction. âBut if it gets weird then Iâm blaming you.â
He just grins triumphantly and pulls out his phone so that he can send your number to Osamu. But then he sees you suddenly pout and groans at your dramatics.
âWhatâs wrong now?â he asks impatiently and your pout grows deeper.
âYâknow he could at least have liked my thirst trap,â you mumble and Atsumuâs eyes light up.
âSo you admit it! It was a thirst trap!â he crows, even as he hopes that it doesnât come out until you guys are married that Osamu only ever uses Instagram to post on Onigiri Miyaâs business account.
