The bright red color and jewel-shaped seeds of pomegranates symbolize life, resurrection, death, and the afterlife in many religions. They have also been renowned throughout history for representing the medical field, fertility, and success.
Fresh, ripe pomegranates have a captivatingly saturated color that has been a topic of interest throughout history and various cultures all over the world.
The fruit’s crown-shaped top radiates a majestic aura that compels people to associate it with success and fortune.
In some societies, pomegranates symbolize the dead and the afterlife. Since the interior is lined with many seeds the fruit also represents fertility and life.
Pomegranates signify the importance of health, medical science, biology, and a link to nature.
Remember that symbolism is subjective. The below are examples of possible interpretations only, and may not be the correct interpretations for you and your situation.
Pomegranate Symbolism
1. Fertility and Prosperity
Pomegranates symbolize fertility. In fact, they are incorporated in many wedding traditions as well as agricultural rituals.
In modern-day Greek culture, pomegranates are considered to symbolize prosperity and fertility. They’re often given as housewarming presents, wishing abundance and good luck to the new house owners.
Similarly in ancient Greek and Persian culture pomegranates were known to signify fertility and feminine beauty and were associated with the Greek Goddess of love Aphrodite and the Goddess of childbirth Hera.
The plentiful red seeds represent fertility in a woman’s womb. For people who experience fertility issues, it is recommended to eat copious amounts of pomegranates or drink pomegranate juice.
Pomegranates also signify prosperity for newlyweds, wearing a crown made from entwined pomegranate leaves was a custom in Ancient Rome for women who had recently gotten married.
This was believed to bring abundance in wealth and prosperity in crops for the married couple.
2. Death and the Afterlife
Pomegranates are strongly associated with death and the afterlife.
The pomegranate is known as “the fruit of the dead” in Greek mythology, opening up the fruit and seeing its unexpectedly unusual interior is often seen as a metaphor for the end of a person’s life and transition into the new and different afterlife.
Pomegranates also symbolize the dead as it was believed that the Greek God of the dead, Hades, used them to tempt Persephone to stay in the underworld.
Since Persephone was the Goddess of rebirth and spring, the pomegranate is known as a symbol for the fusion of life and the hereafter.
They symbolize the pause between life and death, as well as a period of transition that is considered to mirror the changing seasons.
3. Life and Resurrection
The pomegranate is a symbol of resurrection and life.
Pomegranates signify the start of a new life or an era of change according to Christian belief.
If you have been dreaming and thinking about pomegranates or they keep recurring in your life it could be a sign to try something different or go through with a decision that you have been on the fence about.
A lot of Christian art depicts the pomegranate in deeply spiritual contexts such as statues of the Virgin and Child, symbolizing not only the resurrection but also a connection between God and the believers.
The fruit bursting open and spilling its red seeds is a sign of Jesus’s resurrection.
As an exotic, sweet, and beautiful fruit, it signifies the goodness in life. Its citrus flavor is considered to balance its sweetness, symbolizing the need for harmony in life between good and evil.
If you come across this fruit, take a moment to appreciate and marvel at its perfectly balanced nature to incorporate the same equilibrium in all aspects of your life.
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4. Paradise and Success
Pomegranates have long been considered a symbol of success and paradise.
Pomegranates have a strong significance as symbols for paradise, in Islam, it is considered to be a fruit of paradise since it is mentioned to be in the gardens of heaven.
The perfection of the fruit in its shape and taste, to the extent that it is deemed as one of the rewards for righteous people.
Many believe that of all the seeds in a pomegranate, there is one that comes directly from heaven, and eating it is a way to earn blessings and succeed in life.
The crownlike shape of the fruit symbolizes royalty and magnificence and its orb-like resemblance signifies ambition and power.
For people with big aspirations, pomegranates are a representation of the success that they wish to achieve, and hence a symbol of motivation too. It is believed that this inspires and pushes people to attain their dreams.
5. Medical Science
Pomegranates are symbols of medicine and biology due to their appearance and health benefits.
The blood-red color and round shape of the pomegranate resemble a human heart; the pomegranate is therefore sometimes considered a symbol for medical science.
The pomegranate features in the logos of many medical associations because it symbolizes the intricacies of the human body and the rich science behind understanding it.
The fruit is perhaps most popularized for its numerous health benefits, and its high nutritional value makes it a symbol of health and nutrition.
If your health has been suffering lately, pomegranate may be a sign for you to take your health seriously and either seek medical help or improve your food intake.
The pomegranate shows that there is beauty in the workings of the natural world, all of nature’s elements from the human heart to the glorious pomegranate are interlinked.
Conclusion
A fruit with powerful associations ranging from fertility and success to death and paradise – the pomegranate is an important symbol across different cultures and religions.
It presents itself with magnificence and charm, bringing good luck to its recipients. Pomegranates act as a reminder to aim for your ambitions, a symbol of hope and determination.
Yet at the same time pomegranates carry darker, serious themes such as transitioning from the world of the living to the world of the dead.
The pomegranate sends a message to everyone to value their lives and lead a righteous path or else they will reap the consequences of a torturous afterlife.
I’m Chris and I run this website – a resource about symbolism, metaphors, idioms, and a whole lot more! Thanks for dropping by.