Help: Symbols of death

[optimisticnad]

For this creative piece that I am working on I am trying to find something symbolic of death that we eat. I was thinking something like fruits. Any ideas? Let me know!

[optimisticnad]

Pomegranate seeds: greek mythology, Hades king of the underworld tricks Persephone.

I have many ideas but nothing solid.

What about symbols of life in food?

[papayahed]

Somewhere in the recesses of my mind I remember something about eggs and soul and death. I think.

[optimisticnad]

thanks papa (!) I'll chase it up.

[blackbird_9]

Raisins. For no reason other than that they are grapes with the life sucked out of them.

[Koa]

Cool, now I'll love raisins even more...

Well, some of those things made with blood? Black pudding I think it's called, and there are also some sausages made like that in different parts of the world such as Spain. Yuck.

Apple would be an easy symbol, although maybe it's not really life & death...

Even easier, just meat...dead animals...although you probably don't want vegeterian symbolism ;)

[optimisticnad]

Thanks koa and blackbird, I love the raisins idea. But I hate raisins! :-)

[Themis]

Cool, now I'll love raisins even more...

Well, some of those things made with blood? Black pudding I think it's called, and there are also some sausages made like that in different parts of the world such as Spain. Yuck.
)

And Austria. We make the sausages. And yes, they´re made mostly of blood. (And they taste good ;) )

[Virgil]

I can't find any food symbols of death. Food is usually suggestive of life, sustenance. The only thing I can think of is the body (bread) and blood (wine) of Christ. But that too can be seen as life giving, spiritual life.

[Poetess]

fruits? I have no idea.. how about words? like
Silent bliss
eternal sleep
sunset

[*Classic*Charm*]

if you're lookig for evil fruits, how about blood oranges?

They look like a normal orange from the outside, but on the inside, the fruit is a dark red colour. They're very odd looking.

[manolia]

How about mandrake root? (in greek mythology people who ate mandrake root -here we call it mandragoras- went to sleep and never woke up again)

here;s a link to wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandrake_%28plant%29

[johnA.B.C.Smith]

cheese burger and french fries. most requested last meal for those about to be executed on death row. not a symbol but more a stat. not sure if it would work but i suppose if its a contemporary piece....

[Nightshade]

well Im pretty sure, Ill just check but I am almost postive that the poem I choese my screen name from has just that...
BINGO!

No, no, go not to Lethe, neither twist
Wolf's-bane, tight-rooted, for its poisonous wine;
Nor suffer thy pale forehead to be kissed
By nightshade, ruby grape of Proserpine;
Make not your rosary of yew-berries,
Nor let the beetle nor the death-moth be
Your mournful Psyche, nor the downy owl
A partner in your sorrow's mysteries;
For shade to shade will come too drowsily,
And drown the wakeful anguish of the soul

I might go on and add there is a Juxtaposition ( oh I do love big words) in a lot of things take mistlletoe for instance Im pretty sure although youd need to check this as my sources are skechy at best, but Im pretty sure that mistloe was a symbol of power and life to the Druids. at the same time its a deadly poison.

[Virgil]

well Im pretty sure, Ill just check but I am almost postive that the poem I choese my screen name from has just that...
BINGO!


I might go on and add there is a Juxtaposition ( oh I do love big words) in a lot of things take mistlletoe for instance Im pretty sure although youd need to check this as my sources are skechy at best, but Im pretty sure that mistloe was a symbol of power and life to the Druids. at the same time its a deadly poison.

Great thinking Nighty. Yes, these are symbols of death, although I'm not sure any of them would be called food.

[Madhuri]

Vegetables or fruits that are uprooted, I mean the root is eaten, where the very thing that can give life or procreate (if that is the right word?) is taken away. I am not sure if this is the idea you are looking for :)

Some very strict Hindus do not eat roots, because they believe it takes away life.

[Nightshade]

Great thinking Nighty. Yes, these are symbols of death, although I'm not sure any of them would be called food.
yes but they are technically fruit

:nod:

[Madhuri]

I was thinking something like fruits.

That's what Opti is looking for...

[papayahed]

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