Humans have been baking birthday cakes for a very long time. In Ancient Greece, moon-shaped cakes were offered as a tribute to Artemis (the goddess of the moon). It was in the Middle Ages, though, that the Western birthday tradition we know today took shape.
German children received a cake with lit candles on the morning of their birthday. The candles, which represented the child’s age plus one (for the hopes of another year of life), burned through the day. Only at night, after dinner, the child would blow out the candles and make a wish.
Later on, the Industrial Revolution popularized the birthday cake tradition. The mass production that came with that period made baking tools and ingredients more easily available. Even pre-baked and prepared cakes became more common because of that. But that’s enough of historic chit-chat! Here are some beautiful cakes inspired by famous artists and artworks to serve as inspiration for your next birthday.
The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli is one of the most iconic images of Venus. Also known by the Greek name Aphrodite, the goddess was born from the sea foam – which explains the seashell elements in the cake. Why not summon the goddess of beauty and love on your special day?