Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers and spring (corresponds
to the Greek Nymph Chloris). One spring Zephyr, the god of wind,
saw her and fell in love, he carried her away, married, and granted her
domain over flowers. She made some gifts to mankind, such as honey and
seeds of countless varieties of flowers.
See: Arcimboldo
Flora,
Alessandro Botticelli Primavera.
Titian
Flora.
Flora also had a very special garden, inhabited by the mythological
figures, who were transformed into plants: Ajax, who after throwing himself
on his sword, became a larkspur; Narcissus,
who always stares at his own reflection, and who became the flower with
the same name; Clytie, who became a sunflower, and always follows the movement
of the Sun’s chariot; Hyacinthus, Apollo’s lover,
Adonis, Venus’ lover, who became flowers after
their death; and many others. In spring Flora celebrated her triumph: she
drove a chariot and the above mentioned characters took part in the triumphal
procession.
See: Nicolas Poussin. The
Triumph of Flora, The Garden
of Flora.