Our Lady of the Pomegranate

"In Christian iconographic paintings, the Virgin Mary often holds Persephone's pomegranate, symbolizing Mary's authority over the death of her son, much as Athena in her dark or gorgon-like moods upheld a pomegranate in her left hand....In Jewish lore it was again the fruit of things forbidden, growing upon the Tree of Knowledge (of sexuality & death) forbidden to Adam and Eve."--Paghat the Ratgirl

Leonardo's Madonna holding a pomegranate


Boticelli's Madonna holding a pomegranate