The History of the Flower Crown
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 accessory associated with Coachella revelers and boho bride-to-bes, however it's not brand-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, power, and splendor. 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 frequently represented in art and literature wearing specific plants committed to them. In Ovid's Metamorphoses, the lovely nymph Daphne handles to escape 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 spouse, you shall a minimum of be my tree; I will always wear you on my hair, on my quiver, O Laurel." (557-- 559). He keeps his word, and as an outcome is typically portrayed wearing a laurel wreath as a sign 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 associated with Hercules, who, according to custom, imported the tree to Olympia from northwest Greece.
The ancient Greeks first introduced the crown as an honorary benefit for victors in athletic, military, poetic, and musical contests. 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 an essential symbol of status, accomplishment, and success.
Olive wreaths were also granted to winners of athletic competitors, like the nude young male shown below. Wild olive trees grew at Olympia where the Olympic video games were held, and olive wreaths were offered as rewards to victors at these games. He may have been a weight, wrestler, or runner lifter, who is crowning himself or getting rid of the wreath to devote it to the gods as a sign of piety.
The meaning of the laurel wreath makes it through to this day. It included prominently on the medal style for the 2016 Rio Olympics, for instance.
The ancient Romans continued the custom of the crown as a reward for accomplishment. They dressed their leaders and military personnel in crowns made of laurel, oak, or myrtle.
Flower crowns were likewise worn for celebrations and celebrations, similar to they are today; they were customary at occasions such as sacrifices to Gods and feasts. In representations of Greek men at seminar (aristocratic drinking celebrations) we often see figures using wreaths. They believed that connecting a fillet tight around their heads might alleviate their drunkenness-- though today's celebrations goers might disagree. These were initially made of wool however later 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, plant life, and spring-- so it's no surprise that a headpiece made from flower petals and interwoven vines was the must-have accessory. In this here 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 women and children wear vibrant flower crowns and carry 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 celebrations. It made a comeback in Renaissance art, as artists and scholars looked once again to the classical past for motivation.
In modern times we frequently see flower crowns utilized as a suggestion of the ancient Mediterranean world. As just one example, German professional photographer Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden utilized the flower crowns in pictures he created of in Sicily, as a symbol of his topics' ancient heritage.
Even the bridal crown, it ends up, has ancient roots. The Roman bride would wear a crown made from verbena that she herself had actually picked. In contemporary times, Queen Victoria made the practice fashionable by using a crown of orange blooms in her hair on her big day to here prince Albert on February 10, 1840. It was also during the Victorian period that interest in "floriography" increased, with women frequently portrayed using flowers to interact a personal characteristic. The orange bloom, for instance, is a sign of chastity.
Today the pattern of wearable fronds and flowers continues in a variety of ways-- as a symbol of success, event, love, love, or femininity, whether you're wearing a wreath to a festival or putting on a digital variation on Snapchat.
Flower crowns were likewise used for festivities and celebrations, much like they are today; they were traditional at occasions such as sacrifices to Gods and banquets. 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 children use vibrant flower crowns and bring baskets of flowers. It was likewise throughout the Victorian period that interest in "floriography" rose, with women often depicted wearing flowers to communicate a personal characteristic.