The Library of Obscure Wonders

Study of an Apple. Silverpoint. J V Roberts.

“hallucinating Apples, i went down to the shop and bought one. Counting out my last 23 pence at the counter felt like a righteous act and I treated it like that. walking home I felt like I was holding the Centre of the Universe in my hand.” manfromuranus

Beware of the apple, it is a sinful fruit. A master at the art of temptation.The symbol of immortality, health and fertility in Norse myth, it gave the gods their eternal youth.

It is an ancient fruit originating from Asia, perhaps the first ever cultivated.

When the Greek goddess of dischord was not invited to the party she threw a golden apple on to the dance floor, with an inscription that read “to the fairest”.  Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite all claimed the apple. Paris would have to judge which of them was the fairest. Aphrodite wanted the golden apple so much she got Paris to vote for her by offering him Helen of Troy, and so started the Trojan war.

Atlanta was tricked by the tempting apple when Aphrodite gave 3 apples to Hippomenes.  Atlanta would only marry the man that could win against her in a race, but she was fast and no man could beat her . Then Hippomenes laid down the apples Aphrodite had given him, placed them one by one in Atlanta’s path so she slowed down to retrieve them. Hippomenes won the race so Atlanta had to marry him as she’d agreed with her father.

Then there is of course the apple of the tree of knowledge, so delicious looking on that branch. It couldn’t have taken much persuading from the snake or Eve, Adams mouth was watering.

An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but be careful who it does bring. An old tradition was to toss an apple to the person you loved, and if the loved one caught the apple it meant they loved you in return.

Studies of an old slightly rotten apple. Silverpoint on paper. By JV Roberts

Golden Apple from Aphrodite