The Ancient Origins of Flower Crowns

From symbol of success 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 device associated with Coachella revelers and boho bride-to-bes, however it's not new: wearing leaves and flowers as a headpiece has a rich history dating back to the ancient classical world.

Given that antiquity, the circular or horseshoe shape of the wreath has actually been a sign of eternity, glory, and power. In ancient Greece and Rome numerous crowns were made of wool and foliage such as myrtle and ivy leaves, and were adorned with different flowers, which held numerous associations through time.

Ancient gods and goddesses were typically represented in art and literature using specific plants dedicated 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 partner, you shall at least be my tree; I will constantly wear you on my hair, on my quiver, O Laurel." (557-- 559). He keeps his word, and as a result is typically illustrated wearing 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 use today comes from this misconception.

White poplar leaves were connected with Hercules, who, according to custom, imported the tree to Olympia from northwest Greece.

The ancient Greeks initially introduced the crown as an honorary reward for victors in athletic, military, poetic, and musical contests. For instance, the Pythian Games were held at Delphi every four years in honor of Apollo, and winners generally got a wreath of bay laurel. The bay laurel tree is native to the Mediterranean area, and it stood as a crucial symbol of status, achievement, and triumph.

Olive wreaths were also granted to winners of athletic competitors, like the nude young male revealed listed below. Wild olive trees grew at Olympia where the Olympic video games were held, and olive wreaths were given as rewards to victors at these 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 an indication of piety.

The meaning of the laurel wreath survives to this day. It included prominently on the medal style for the 2016 Rio Olympics, for example.

The ancient Romans continued the tradition of the crown as a benefit for triumph. They dressed their leaders and military workers in crowns made of oak, laurel, or myrtle.

Flower crowns were likewise worn for celebrations and celebrations, just like they are today; they were customary at occasions such as sacrifices to Gods and feasts. In more info representations of Greek men at symposia (stylish drinking parties) we typically see figures wearing wreaths. They thought that tying a fillet tight around their heads might ease their drunkenness-- though today's celebrations goers might disagree. These were originally made from wool however later on embellished with flowers and petals from roses, violets, myrtle, and parsley.

In Rome, the Floralia celebration 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 Alma-Tadema's painting Spring, the artist represents this event and the tradition of sending out kids out to pick flowers on the very first day of May. A procession of females and children use colorful floral crowns and bring baskets of flowers.

Although the flower crown was popular in the ancient world, as Christianity spread it fell out of favor due to its association with pagan festivals. It made a return in Renaissance art, as scholars and artists looked once again to the classical past for inspiration.

In contemporary times we typically see flower crowns utilized as a reminder of the ancient Mediterranean world. As just one example, German professional photographer Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden utilized the flower crowns in portraits he produced of in Sicily, as a sign of his topics' ancient heritage.

Even the bridal crown, it turns out, has ancient roots. The Roman bride would use a crown made from verbena that she herself had picked. In contemporary times, Queen Victoria made the practice fashionable by using a crown of orange blooms in her hair on her wedding day to prince Albert on February 10, 1840. It was also throughout the Victorian period that interest in "floriography" increased, with women often portrayed using flowers to interact an individual attribute. The orange blossom, for instance, is a sign of chastity.

Today the pattern of wearable leaves and flowers continues in a range of ways-- as a symbol of victory, celebration, romance, love, or femininity, whether you're using a wreath to a festival or donning a digital version on Snapchat.

Flower crowns were also used for celebrations and events, much like they are today; they were customary at events such as sacrifices to Gods and feasts. These were originally made of wool but 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 custom of sending out kids out to select flowers on the first day of May. A procession of women and children wear colorful flower crowns and bring baskets of flowers. It was likewise throughout the Victorian period that interest in "floriography" increased, with females typically illustrated using flowers to interact an individual quality.