Across the world and throughout myths, legends and religious texts pomegranates have been symbolic of wealth, fertility and good luck. The pomegranate has been a popular feature and motif in artworks, literature, ceremonies and culinary offerings from all over the world. A modern day superfood yes…but people throughout time and place have known of its health benefits. From stories of Agdistis, Persephone, Roman Britain and Catherine of Aragon. With artworks from Giovanna Garzoni, Clara Peeters, Sandro Boticelli, Dante Gabriel Rosetti, Zaida Ben Yusuf, Sergei Parajanov and Katayoun Amjadi.

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Detail from The Hinton St Mary Mosaic depicting a human bust with a chi-rho monogram behind the head which is flanked by pomegranate, early 4th century found in a Roman villa in Dorset, acquired byt the British Museum in 1965 (Via: British Museum)

The Madonna of the Pomegranate (detail), Sandro Botticelli, circa 1487. Uffizi Gallery of Florence, Italy.

The Madonna of the Pomegranate, Sandro Botticelli, circa 1487. Uffizi Gallery of Florence, Italy.

Open Pomegranate in a Dish, with Grasshopper, Snail and Two Chestnuts, c. 1652 by Giovanna Garzoni (1600–1670) (Via: Biblioklept) — *Open Pomegranate in a Dish, with Grasshopper, Snail and Two Chestnuts*, c. 1652 by Giovanna Garzoni (1600–1670) (Via: Biblioklept)

Self-portrait, painted sometime before 1670 by Giovanna Garzoni (1600–1670) (Via: Wikimedia)

A Still life of a Porcelain Bowl of Grapes on a Stone Ledge with a Medlar, Quinces, a Pomegranate and a Wasp. 1610, Fede Galizia (1578 - 1630), — *A Still life of a Porcelain Bowl of Grapes on a Stone Ledge with a Medlar, Quinces, a Pomegranate and a Wasp*. 1610, Fede Galizia (1578 - 1630),

Still life with a gilt goblet, a pomegranate and Wan Li dishes with fruit, nuts and sweets, waarschijnlijk ,1612. Clara Peeters (Via: wikiart) — *Still life with a gilt goblet, a pomegranate and Wan Li dishes with fruit, nuts and sweets, waarschijnlijk ,*1612. Clara Peeters (Via: wikiart)

Dante Gabriel Rossetti Proserpine — Dante Gabriel Rossetti *Proserpine*

The odor of pomegranates, Zaida Ben Yusuf [ca. 1900] (Via: Library of Congress) — *The odor of pomegranates*, Zaida Ben Yusuf [ca. 1900]
(Via: Library of Congress)

This is not a pomegranate, Katayoun Amjadi, 2015, (Via: Katayoun.com) — *This is not a pomegranate*, Katayoun Amjadi, 2015, (Via: Katayoun.com)

Uploaded by Katayoun Amjadi on 2016-01-02.

Sergei Parajanov, The Colour of Pomegranates. Photograph: © Second Sight Films — Sergei Parajanov, *The Colour of Pomegranates*.
Photograph: © Second Sight Films