The bright ruby-red seeds of a pomegranate, reminiscent of glittering jewels, makes the surprise and delight of cracking one open for the first time unlike any other. Pomegranates are also considered a dualistic fruit due to their symbolism, as they have long represented life and death, fertility and barrenness, and so on. In Greek mythology, Persephone became bound to the Underworld for six months out of a year after eating some pomegranate seeds; and in Japanese mythology, Shakyamuni Buddha is said to have commanded Kishibojin (the goddess of childbirth and children) to eat pomegranates instead of human babies since they “taste similar to human flesh.”

Has learning more about pomegranates’ symbolism changed your feelings about the following illustrations?

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