Kosmo Posted November 15, 2006 Report Share Posted November 15, 2006 Can someone, please, tell me how and since when the laurel crown and the olive branch got their symbolic value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pantagathus Posted November 15, 2006 Report Share Posted November 15, 2006 While I am trying to remember where I have notes on this subject, I present what Pliny (16.4) has to say about the first crowns: In ancient times crowns were presented to none but a divinity, hence it is that Homer awards them only to the gods of heaven and to the entire army; but never to an individual, however great his achievements in battle may have been. It is said, too, that Father Liber was the first of all who placed a crown on his head, and that it was made of ivy. In succeeding times, those engaged in sacrifices in honour of the gods began to wear them, the victims being decked with wreaths as well. More recently, again, they were employed in the sacred games; and at the present day they are bestowed on such occasions, not upon the victor, indeed, but upon his country, which receives, it is proclaimed, this crown at his hands. Hence arose the usage of conferring wreaths upon warriors when about to enjoy a triumph, for them to consecrate in the temples: after which it became the custom to present them at our games. It would be a lengthy matter, and, indeed, foreign to the purpose of this work, to enter upon a discussion who was the first Roman that received each kind of crown; in fact, they were acquainted with none but such as were given as the reward of military prowess. It is a well-known fact, however, that this people has more varieties of crowns than those of all other nations put together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pertinax Posted November 15, 2006 Report Share Posted November 15, 2006 Would the use of the laurel as an aid to Prophecy and "poetic" pronouncement give a further meaning to its imposition on the brows? Or is this too tenuous a connection ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmo Posted November 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2006 Thank you, Pantagathus! What do you mean Pertinax? What are brows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pertinax Posted November 16, 2006 Report Share Posted November 16, 2006 Thank you, Pantagathus!What do you mean Pertinax? What are brows? The forehead basically, I was suggesting a link to the idea of "inspiration" or perhaps prophetic vision by the person wearing such a crown , given the potentially hallucogenic nature of certain laurel plants (when ingested, rather than in proximity to the flesh). My statement was conjectural, im sorry if I clouded the issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmo Posted November 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2006 Aha! Eyebrows. It is an interesting ideea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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