The Story of Venus and Adonis

Venus was the Goddess of love and beauty. She was the mother of the god of love, Cupid, and yet even she was not safe from his powers.

Once, as she played with her son in the forest, she pricked her finger on one of his arrows. Soon after, she met the handsome hunter Adonis as he hunted with his hounds in the forest. At once, Venus fell hopelessly in love with the mortal man.
	
She followed Adonis wherever he went, begging him to be careful.  She asked him to hunt only harmless animals, so that he would not get hurt. He pretended to obey her wishes, but he was a bold young man who wanted to prove his strength. So when Venus went away for a while, Adonis took up his spear and hounds and went to seek a dangerous challenge.

His hounds cornered an old boar, a huge creature with fearsome tusks. Adonis tried to kill the beast, but the great animal rushed at Adonis and buried his tusks in his side. Adonis gave a great cry of pain. His voice reached Venus, who was in the heavens. She rushed to where her loved one lay bleeding on the ground. She wept in despair. 

She could not save Adonis, and he died in her arms. Her tears mixed with his blood and hit the ground. From each tear and blood drop, grew leaves, and each one opened into a beautiful crimson flower.

And so even today, when spring comes and the bright red anemone flower blooms, people say that the goddess Venus weeps again for her lost love, Adonis.