Vintage sculpture "Adonis". Made from alabaster. Europe, twentieth century.

God Adonis is one of the most famous ancient deities, whose worship spread throughout the ancient world. His name comes from a Phoenician word meaning "lord" or "master", symbolizing his high position among the other gods.

One of the most famous legends about the god Adonis is associated with his love affair with the goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite. According to myth, when the goddess saw Adonis, she immediately fell in love with him and became his lover. However, the shadow of death hung over the god of beauty: he was mortal. Ultimately, Adonis was killed by a wild boar sent by Ares, the god of war, in jealousy of Aphrodite. The goddess cried over his body and asked Zeus to revive him. Zeus allowed Adonis to spend a quarter of the year with the goddess and the rest of the year in the underworld, symbolizing the cycle of nature - winter and summer.

The cult of the god Adonis was widespread in ancient times, especially in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. He was often worshiped in the spring, during a festival in his honor, which symbolized the return of life and fertility to the land after a long winter.

Today, Adonis remains a symbol of beauty, youth and rebirth, reminding us of the eternal cycle of life and death. His legends and images continue to inspire people around the world, reminding people of the importance of understanding and accepting the variability and eternal cycle of nature.