Dominic Flandry says that the Merseians would offer sub rosa help to a Terran Imperial Pretender. (A Stone In Heaven, XII, p. 167) Googling this Latin phrase (see here) reveals:
an ancient mythological explanation;
symbolism associated with Catholic confessionals;
Rosicrucianism.
And you cannot possibly get any more esoteric than that.
Kaor, Paul!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, I checked! The origins, history, and uses of "sub rosa" was very esoteric!
Sean
Paul and Sean:
ReplyDeleteThe U.S. Army's Intelligence Branch includes a rose in its official insignia, explicitly because of that symbolism.
Kaor, David!
DeleteBecause the US Army Intelligence Service collects and guards secrets? So, the rose would make a natural symbol.
Btw, we see mentioned in Chapter II of THE REBEL WORLDS that the insigne for Dominic Flandry's branch of the Imperial Navy, the Intelligence Corps, was a star with an eye.
Sean
It also refers to going outside into the garden to talk about things -- "sub rosa", under the rose-bush (on a trellis).
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Stirling,
DeleteWith the context being that such a conversation would be private and confidential.
Sean
Yup. And because rose-bushes were often trained around and over latticework pergolas, you couldn't be seen well either.
DeleteDear Mr. Stirling,
DeleteAnd that's a nuance I had not thought of!
Sean