The History of a Flower Crown
From symbol of victory to Snapchat filter, wreaths of leaves and flowers have had symbolic meaning in Western culture for over 2,000 years
The flower crown is today a fashionable accessory associated with Coachella revelers and boho bride-to-bes, however it's not brand-new: using leaves and flowers as a headpiece has a rich history dating back to the ancient classical world.
Because antiquity, the circular or horseshoe shape of the wreath has been a symbol of eternity, glory, and power. In ancient Greece and Rome many crowns were made of wool and foliage such as myrtle and ivy leaves, and were embellished with various flowers, which held numerous associations through time.
Ancient gods and goddesses were frequently represented in art and literature wearing specific plants committed to them. In Ovid's Metamorphoses, the lovely nymph Daphne handles to leave her pursuer, the god Apollo, by turning herself into a laurel tree. Apollo cuts off a branch from the tree and exclaims, "Although you can not be my other half, you will at least be my tree; I shall constantly use you on my hair, on my quiver, O Laurel." (557-- 559). He keeps his word, and as a result is often depicted using a laurel wreath as a symbol of his love for Daphne. Apollo is the god of authors and poets, and the term poet laureate that we utilize today originates from this myth.
White poplar leaves were related to Hercules, who, inning accordance with tradition, imported the tree to Olympia from northwest Greece.
The ancient Greeks first presented the crown as an honorary benefit for victors in athletic, military, poetic, and musical contests. For example, the Pythian Games were held at Delphi every 4 years in honor of Apollo, and winners typically received a wreath of bay laurel. The bay laurel tree is belonging to the Mediterranean region, and it stood as an important symbol of status, achievement, and triumph.
Olive wreaths were also awarded to winners of athletic competitors, like the naked boy revealed below. Wild olive trees grew at Olympia where the Olympic games were held, and olive wreaths were offered as prizes to victors at these video games. He may have been a runner, wrestler, or weight lifter, who is crowning himself or getting rid of the wreath to devote it to the gods as a sign of piety.
The click here importance of the laurel wreath makes it through to this day. It featured plainly on the medal design for the 2016 Rio Olympics, for instance.
The ancient Romans continued the tradition of the crown as a benefit for victory. They dressed their leaders and military workers in crowns made of myrtle, laurel, or oak.
Flower crowns were likewise worn for celebrations and events, much like they are today; they were traditional at occasions such as sacrifices to Gods and feasts. These were initially made of wool but later on embellished with flowers and petals from roses, violets, myrtle, and parsley.
In Rome, the Floralia festival was kept in honor of Flora, goddess of flowers, plants, and spring-- so it's no surprise that a headpiece made from flower petals and interwoven vines was the essential accessory. In this representation of a statue of Plants, she is depicted holding her flower crown.
In Europe this spiritual celebration was later commemorated as the secular May Day. In Alma-Tadema's painting Spring, the artist represents this event and the tradition of sending out children flower crown out to choose flowers on the very first day of May. A procession of kids and ladies use colorful floral crowns and bring baskets of flowers. Alma-Tadema was obsessed with the ancient world, and he even set this Victorian celebration in a fictional ancient Rome.
Although the flower crown was popular in the ancient world, as Christianity spread it fell out of favor due to its association with pagan celebrations. It made a comeback in Renaissance art, as artists and scholars looked once again to the classical past more info for inspiration.
In modern times we frequently see flower crowns utilized as a reminder of the ancient Mediterranean world. As just one example, German professional photographer Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden used the flower crowns in portraits he produced of in Sicily, as a sign of his subjects' ancient heritage.
Even the bridal crown, it turns out, has ancient roots. The Roman bride-to-be would use a crown made of verbena that she herself had chosen. In modern-day times, Queen Victoria made the practice fashionable by wearing a crown of orange blossoms in her hair on her wedding event day to prince Albert on February 10, 1840. It was likewise throughout the Victorian era that interest in "floriography" rose, with ladies typically depicted wearing flowers to communicate an individual quality. The orange blossom, for example, is a sign of chastity.
Today the pattern of wearable leaves and flowers continues in a variety of ways-- as a symbol of success, event, love, femininity, or romance, whether you're using a wreath to a celebration or donning a digital version on Snapchat.
Flower crowns were also worn for celebrations and events, much like they are today; they were customary at events such as sacrifices to Gods and feasts. These were initially made of wool however later on embellished with flowers and petals from roses, violets, myrtle, and parsley.
In Alma-Tadema's painting Spring, the artist represents this event and the tradition of sending children out to pick flowers on the first day of May. A procession of ladies and kids use vibrant floral crowns and carry baskets of flowers. It was also during the Victorian age that interest in "floriography" rose, with ladies frequently illustrated using flowers to interact an individual quality.