Sub rosa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Sub Rosa (disambiguation)
The Latin phrase sub rosa means "under the rose" and is used in English to denote secrecy or confidentiality.
The rose was the emblem of the god Horus in ancient Egypt. Later the Greeks and Romans regarded this as god of silence. This originates from a Greek/Roman misinterpretation of an Egyptian hieroglyphic adopting Horus along with Isis and Osiris as a god. The Greeks translated his Egyptian name Har-pa-khered to Harpocrates.
The rose's connotation for secrecy also dates back to Greek mythology. Aphrodite gave a rose to her son Eros, the god of love; he, in turn, gave it to Harpocrates, the god of silence, to ensure that his mother's indiscretions (or those of the gods in general, in other accounts) were kept under wraps. Paintings of roses on the ceilings of Roman banquet rooms were also a reminder that things said under the influence of wine (sub vino) should also remain sub rosa. [1] In the Middle Ages a rose suspended from the ceiling of a council chamber similarly pledged all present (those under the rose) to secrecy.[1]
In Christian symbology the phrase "sub rosa" has a special place in confessions. Pictures of file-leaved roses were often carved on confessionals, indicating that the conversations will maintain secrecy. The phrase has also understood to make reference to the mysterious virginal conception of Christ, which will remain a secret to a rational mind.
In current times, the term is actually used by the Scottish Government for a specific type of "off the record" meetings.[1]
In a number of European countries a "sub rosa" remark is deemed to imply sexual innuendo, or at the very least a blow below the belt. More recently, "sub rosa" activities have become a byword for covert operations, usually by security services. Originating primarily in the USA, this meaning has been gradually spreading to other countries and in particular the United Kingdom.
In the fort of Sàrospatak, Hungary (near the Ukrainian border nowadays), in 1670, members of the Wesselényi-conspiracy met to plot against the royal court in Vienna - the kingdom of Hungary being part of the Austo-Hungarian empire - in a small balcony room bearing a rose painted on the ceiling.The conspirators were ready to fight against the ruling court as they deemed the laws enacted by it anticonstitutional, endangering religious and political freedom. Rákóczi Ferenc I., Nádasdy Ferenc, Zrínyi Péter, Frangepán Ferenc were present, the latter later revealing to the Austrians the details of the conspiracy. The Austrian court responded by putting the fort under siege. During the planning, several secret meetings took place in this small, secluded room. Since then, "sub rosa" has been used in the Hungarian language (in both the Latin form and the Hungarian translation, "A ròzsa alatt") meaning secrecy and plot. For many Hungarians, this where the expression sub rosa originated.
