Sub rosa

For other uses, see Sub Rosa (disambiguation).

Sub rosa (Neo-Latin for "under [the] rose") is a Latin phrase which denotes secrecy or confidentiality. The rose has an ancient history as a symbol of secrecy. Its opposite term is sub vino, meaning "under [the grape]vine", referring to being loose-lipped whilst under the influence of alcohol.

History

In Hellenistic and later Roman mythology, roses were associated with secrecy because Cupid gave a rose to Harpocrates (the Hellenistic god of silence) so he would not reveal the secrets of Venus.^[1] Banquet rooms were decorated with rose carvings, reportedly as a reminder that discussions in the rooms should be kept in confidence.^[1]

This was inherited in later Christian symbolism, where roses were carved on confessionals to signify that the conversations would remain secret.^[1]

The phrase entered the German language (unter der Rose) and, later, the English language, both as a Latin loan phrase (at least as early as 1654) and in its English translation.^[1]

See also

• Language of flowers
• Chatham House Rule