In Greek mythology, Adonis is the beautiful mortal lover of Aphrodite and Persephone. One of several ancient resurrecting gods, Adonis' death by a wild Boar was ritually mourned every spring, a custom carried over from his Syrian roots as the fertility god Tammuz. According to later legend, he was the lover of Aphrodite for part of the year, after which he died and became the lover of the goddess Persephone until his resurrection in the spring.

Adonis is from the same semitic root as Adonai, meaning "Lord."

Adonis

See also: Adonis Gallery

Pronunciation: add-own-iss • (noun)

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