The sweet taste of victory, deafening applause, world fame and enthusiastic shouts of fans in honor of the conquered peaks and new open horizons ... All this is inextricably linked in our minds with constant expressions like "win the palm", "kiss it Fortune" and "put laurel a wreath on his head ". All this has become so familiar and earthly to us that few people even think about the meaning of these words and certainly do not enter the history of their appearance. However, the realization of the simplest truth often turns out to be one of the most difficult tasks, so it is very important to sometimes understand the essence of the same.

Like many other realities of our modern life, such a concept as the "laurel wreath" originates from ancient Greece, in the very sources of our cultural traditions, beliefs and views on art and the world as a whole. You don't have to be a biology specialist to understand what this term actually includes.

The name of this item is obviously connected with one of the oldest symbols borrowed from the world of flora, laurel, common in the Mediterranean. However, the history of the origin of this symbol is much more complex and romantic. To understand the essence of values, one should refer to Greek mythology.

Relationship with the golden god

For a man who understands antiquity, the laurel wreath is inextricably linked with the name of Apollo - the son of the mighty Zeus and the goddess Leto. Traditionally, this representative of the Greek pantheon is depicted as a handsome young man with a bow in his hand and a harp behind his back.

Because of his stunning beauty, grace and masculinity, he is the one who is considered the type ideal for male stats and looks in general. And Apollo's head is decorated with the famous laurel wreath, whose appearance is connected with a romantic, but tragic love story.

Eros arrow

According to myths, the handsome son of Zeus, in addition to a sharp eye and the gift of foresight, also possessed excessive self-esteem, for which he later had to pay. Eros, who decided to teach Apollo, pierced his heart with a magical arrow of love, and the young man sang with love to the god of the river Peneas, the nymph Daphne.

Fate was not in favor of the beautiful god, and the girl did not share his feelings. In obedience to the anguish of heart, Apollo hurried in search of Daphne, but failed to catch up with her - exhausted, the nymph turned to her father, asking him for help and salvation. Penny answered her beloved daughter's prayer in a very unusual way - Daphne's thin camp was covered with bark, her hands turned into branches, stretched towards the sky, and her hair turned green-laurel wreath.

Realizing that he was not destined to be with his beloved, the son of Zeus wove a wreath in memory of his undivided feeling for the beautiful nymph, which later became his symbol and permanent attribute.

The first sign of victory

Still, the finale of this rather sad story was not so gloomy. Everyone knows that the laurel wreath is a symbol of victory in the modern world. It was such a value that the ancient Greeks invested in it, rewarding the best participants of the Pythian Games, to pay homage to the god of beauty and the sun, Apollo. Since then, the world has made a tradition of crowning the winner's head with a wreath of this evergreen plant with a sad history.

Laurel and other nations

This tree had a deep significance and power not only for the Greeks and Romans, who inherited their tradition. The laurel wreath had a different meaning. For example, the inhabitants of ancient China, he symbolized eternal life and rebirth.

In the Christian tradition, this tree is almost inextricably linked to the memorial ceremony, because it is a laurel wreath that was usually used at funerals.

Formation of symbols of victory

Few people know, but the modern understanding of this distinctive ornament arose mainly because of the Great French Bourgeois Revolution. Then it became a laurel wreath - a symbol of victory - entered heraldry. In the XVIII century, the branches of this plant decorated the coat of arms of the French Republic, and then the flags of other countries.

Value conversion

It is no secret that the ancient Greeks, and then the Romans, paid great attention to sports, organizing numerous games and grand competitions. The decoration of the head with a laurel wreath as a reward was available at that time only to top fighters or, for example, javelin throwers.

However, times are changing, and traditions are changing along with them - in the modern world, not only athletes, but also prominent personalities from culture, art, science, and even journalism, are constantly given the privilege to crown their heads with a laurel wreath.

The biggest difference is that today it has become a common figurative expression, and not the actual material realization of a defeated victory. However, medals, cups and certificates, decorated with this floral ornament, are absolutely not uncommon today. The symbol of victory, which originated in ancient times, has been reduced to our days, turning into time, but not losing its greatness.

Thank you for reading my article ... I hope that you enjoyed ...

I send you a big greetings!

@GreenOasis