The pomegranate is the traditional folk decoration of Greek homes and  is cherished as a symbol of joyous times and good fortune, as well as of fertility and prosperity. This veneration of the fruit is rooted in ancient times, and this once ancient practice continues today, finding new meaning in every household.

          Revered as a magical fruit in Greek mythology, the pomegranate was associated with three gods, Demeter, Aphrodite, and Hera. In ancient Athens, at the time of Thesmoforia, the ceremonies honoring Demeter the Goddess of Fertility, Athenians ate pomegranates to gain fertility and prosperity. Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty, was, according to myth, the first to plant the pomegranate tree on Cyprus. Hera, the mother of the gods, is linked most strongly to the fruit in Greek mythology, as she was the goddess of the home and the protector of marriage and childbirth. In her temple in Argos, there was a golden statue of the goddess. In her right hand she held a pomegranate, signifying her connection with this source of fecundity and abundance.

          Not only the ancient Greeks, but all of the peoples of the East venerated the pomegranate. In their religious ceremonies the Ancient Egyptians offered pomegranates to their gods. According to the Bible, King Solomon maintained a garden full of pomegranate trees. The Prophet Mohammed wrote in the Koran, “The pomegranate purifies the body of jealousy and hate.”

          Through the artistry and craftsmanship of Epalladio, the pomegranate, this ancient symbol of joy, can again bring such health and good fortune to today’s homes.