At the request of one of federal TV channels spent historical research about mythological significance bay leaf in politics, art, culture, trade and economics. Below I post the result and ask blog readers to help me with the completeness of the research, if anyone else knows interesting facts about the influence of laurel on social life, leave your comments for study. Thanks in advance.
- When did mention of the bay leaf first appear in chronicles? Where was it first used?
The first mentions of bay leaves in chronicles occur in the 21st century BC. IN historical sources Noble laurel is found quite often. Since its homeland is the Mediterranean, it found its way into ancient sources - in particular, Homer writes that Odysseus used the noble laurel for medicinal purposes.
Why in Ancient Greece and in Ancient Rome many legends, beliefs, etc. were associated with bay leaves? Can you name the most popular ones?
The era of antiquity as a whole left us quite a lot of legends - the ancient Greeks naturally included the reality around them in them, tried to explain the origin of animals and plants, natural phenomena and landscape features using the pagan paradigm. By and large, all legends and beliefs come from the myth of Apollo and Daphne.
Laurel is a symbol of purity, determination, triumph and immortality. He gives vitality, success and fulfillment of desires.
The famous Ovid in his “Metamorphoses” tells that Apollo, who lived among people, fell in love with the nymph Daphne and constantly pursued her. One day, after defeating the serpent Python, Apollo met the young god of love Eros with a bow and arrows and joked with him: “Why do you need a bow and arrows, baby? Do you really think you can surpass me in the art of shooting? "
This mockery offended Eros, and he sent two arrows in revenge. The first, the arrow of love, pierced Apollo, and the second, killing love, hit Daphne. Since then, Daphne has always run away from Apollo. No tricks helped him. Exhausted by suffering and eternal persecution, Daphne turned to Father Peneus and Earth so that they could take her image away from her. After these words, she turned into a laurel bush (a curious fact is that in Rus' until the 18th century, the bay leaf was called “daphnia” (“laurel” in Greek is “daphne”).
The saddened Apollo from then on began to wear a wreath of evergreen laurel on his head. In Greece, homes were decorated with laurel leaves to refresh the room. Laurel branches were placed in mattresses to make people dream prophetic dreams. There was a belief that laurel saved from lightning strikes.
Thus, it is a known fact that the Roman Emperor Tiberius wore laurel wreath and crawled under the bed. Laurel was considered a sacred tree; the heads of victors were decorated with wreaths in Ancient Greece. For several thousand years, this tradition has been preserved in other countries, for example in England. From the word “laurel” comes the word “laureate” - “crowned with laurels”.
There is a version that Roman emperors wore laurel wreaths to emphasize their chosenness by God, is this true? (For example, it was always worn by Julius Caesar). Emperor Tiberius was sure that bay leaves protected against lightning. What is this belief connected with?
The generic name of the plant may have come from the Celtic “lauer” - green and the Latin nobilis - noble, since in ancient times heroes were crowned with a laurel wreath.
Since ancient times, laurel branches have symbolized excellence in art and sports. The laurel wreath was awarded to winners in poetry, music and sports competitions, in particular the winners of the Olympic Games. Evergreen, it was an emblem of immortality.
Laurel in different times associated with various gods, including Zeus (Jupiter in ancient Roman culture). According to one theory, Caesar wore a wreath instead of a crown, because he never became king. He started civil war, conquered Rome and thereby did a lot for the development of the state. For this, Caesar was appointed consul for life of the empire, he was called emperor, father of the fatherland, he was praised and pleased, but for the commander himself the main symbol of power was a laurel wreath.
There is another version, according to which Caesar began to go bald early and since he was a handsome man and enjoyed success with women, he tried in every possible way to hide this flaw. A laurel wreath was perfect for this, because due to his position, Caesar could wear a wreath all the time.
In general, the laurel wreath as a symbol of victory and triumph refers us, first of all, to the myth of Apollo and Python. According to legend, the laurel tree (the only one of all the trees planted by man) was never struck by lightning - Zeus especially favored the plant associated with his son Apollo.
- Why in ancient world Was the laurel considered a symbol of triumph?
According to Ovid's Metamorphoses and Greek mythology, Apollo, jokingly told Eros, the young god of love, that he would never surpass him in the art of archery. The two arrows sent by Eros found their targets. The arrow of love hit Apollo, and the second - killing love - hit the nymph Daphne - the daughter of the gods Peneus and Gaia (Earth). Naturally, Apollo fell in love and longed for reciprocity, constantly pursuing divine maiden. And she, on the contrary, did not want to see her admirer and complained to her parents-gods. They, in order to save her from an obsessive pursuer, turned their daughter into a laurel tree. Translated, Daphne means laurel. Apollo tried unsuccessfully to disenchant Daphne. Therefore, in memory of her, he always carried a bay leaf with him, and in Delphi, after the victory over the serpent Python, he collected bay leaves for the first victorious crown. To this day, laurel gardens and groves grow on the island of Delos, where, according to legend, the god of beauty was born. Well, the decoration of laurel leaves became an indispensable attribute of the image of Apollo.
Since then, the laurel tree has been inextricably linked with the name of Apollo. Since, in addition to the arts, Apollo patronized sports competitions, the laurel wreath began to be awarded not only to skilled composers, singers and artists, but also to the winners of the Pythian Games, the venue of which was the Cryssaean Plain. From Greece, the laurel wreath was inherited by the Romans. The triumphal symbol of the laurel began to be intended not only for winners in sports competitions, but also for heroes who distinguished themselves in military campaigns. The laurel among the Romans became a symbol of peace that follows a military victory. This award was given to a warrior for special merits - for example, for saving a comrade in battle, being the first to enter an enemy fortress, for a successful assault on an enemy city. The goddess of victory Nike always held in her hands a triumphal symbol - a laurel wreath, which was placed on the head of the winner.
The tradition migrated from the Delphic Pythian Games to Olympic Games in Greece. This meant that the winner, with his unsurpassed skill and ability, was awarded the great honor of approaching the host of gods. And the common expression about resting on one’s laurels speaks precisely of the opportunity to enjoy one’s uniqueness and greatness.
- Is it true to say that the bay leaf spread along with Greco-Roman culture throughout the world?
Not really - the bay leaf was still known not only to the ancient Greeks and Romans, it was also used African tribes, was familiar in ancient China.
On English coins, Charles II, George I, George II and Elizabeth II were depicted wearing laurel wreaths.
As a symbol of superiority, the laurel wreath was included in the symbols of automobile companies (Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Mercedes-Benz).
Laurel is a symbol of magical power. Plant of soothsayers and witches. Before making a prediction, they burned or chewed bay leaves.
IN North America The laurel is considered a talisman, and in China the laurel is a tree under which the moon hare prepares the elixir of immortality.
IN Christian tradition laurel is a symbol of eternal life.
In Freemasonry, during initiation into the 4th degree of the Master's secret, a laurel wreath is placed on the altar.
Can we say that some cultural values of Greece and Rome (including the use of bay leaves) have survived to this day?
The bay leaf does not carry such cultural values of antiquity as it may seem today. Laurel leaves were used for religious purposes or for fumigating a room, but we use bay leaves as a spice. In 1652, François Pierre de la Varenpe, an outstanding chef to the French queen Marie de' Medici, published a cookbook that was famous at the time. He wrote about bay leaf as a spice that can improve and correct the taste of a dish. Recommended using it in desserts, puddings and meat dishes. The only thing that has survived, albeit in a greatly modified form, is the use of the leaf for medicinal purposes.
However, today many signs associated with bay leaves have been preserved. Perhaps everyone knows: if a person finds a bay leaf in soup, the sign indicates that a letter will arrive soon. This superstition has been familiar to many since childhood. Of course, there are no precise statistics to determine the plausibility of this rule. However, the fact that this folk wisdom dates back many centuries, speaks of a certain amount of reality. Moreover, in this century modern technologies, when few people write postal letters anymore, this sign may be interpreted differently. A long-awaited email or message social networks will not keep you waiting. One way or another, finding a bay leaf in a bowl of soup indicates that information communicated by writing text should be expected soon.
Did the Pythians in the Delphic Temple of Apollo really chew bay leaves when they made predictions? What fateful predictions were made in the Delphic Oracle? What place did this temple occupy in the life of the Greeks?
Yes, there is such a version. This custom gave rise to the symbolism of secret knowledge, allegedly transmitted to the Pythia by Apollo himself. Xenophon in his “Memoirs of Socrates” writes that one of his students named Chaerephon went to the oracle at Delphi to ask who was the wisest of people. The Pythia replied that the wisest of all, without a doubt, was Socrates.
A well-known prediction that was received in Delphi by the richest Lydian king Croesus, who fought with Persia. He was told: “If you cross the river Halys (on the sides of which there were two armies, you will destroy the great kingdom." The hopeful Croesus suffered a crushing defeat from Cyrus. In response to Croesus’ complaint, the oracle was told that the prediction did not say whose kingdom exactly. King Philip of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great, asked how to achieve victory over neighboring powers: “Fight with silver spears, and you will win everywhere.” Subsequently, Philip, who began minting gold coins before his neighbors, subdued one after another.” greek cities, saying that there is no such impregnable fortress that a donkey laden with gold could not enter
Were bay leaves or other substances that contain potent aromatic compounds used in various kinds of pre-battle rituals of encouragement and motivation by Greek and Roman armies?
There was no need for this, besides, bay leaf only has calming properties, which is sometimes detrimental to warriors.
As for other encouraging and motivating properties of various substances, the Romans and Greeks mainly used various variations on the theme of nutrition: dates, honey, crushed hooves, lamb testicles, animal blood.
When did the bay leaf first appear in Russia? Why did the Mediterranean spice (as they called “daphnia” in Rus') quickly take root in our country? Can we say that innovations that came from Greece (Byzantium) were always accepted better than those that came from Western Europe? Is it possible to say that culinary traditions accepted as part of Greek culture, thousand-year-old wisdom?
The generally accepted version is that the bay leaf came to the territory of Russia 25 centuries ago - before the formation of Eastern Slavs statehood. It should be noted that laurel also grows on the Black Sea coast, so Russia gradually became one of the producers of this spice. In Greek, Daphne is laurel, so in different countries(including in Rus') until the 17th-18th centuries, laurel was called daphnia. This spice has caught on more because of its ease of use and accessibility. The popularity of the bay leaf, of course, can be associated with the influence of antiquity, in whose era it was considered a symbol of purity (and in
In Byzantium, bay leaves were later used in a ritual to identify thieves), but this is unlikely. Perhaps this was the case initially, and then habit and everyday convenience took their toll.
Why did bay leaf become the most popular (and practically the only, along with pepper) spice in the Soviet Union?
Bay leaves were easy to produce and use; they grew in the south of the USSR, and therefore were also accessible to everyone and cheap. And then, accessibility and simplicity did their job, to the Soviet people The bay leaf hit the spot in every way.
In Antiquity and the Middle Ages, many spices caused wars (tell us about it). Did they fight over bay leaves?
Ancient history is literally crammed with events in which, one way or another, spices took part. Egyptian papyri mention anise, cardamom, mustard, sesame, and saffron. Most of them were used - and not without reason - for medicinal purposes.
Gradually formed Great Path Spices - from East to West. This trade artery determined the development of the world economy for many centuries. The profitable occupation was very quickly monopolized by the Arabs.
In 332 BC, Alexander the Great intervened in Arab business. He and his army reached the Phoenician city of Tire, which was, as they would now say, the largest spice trading exchange. After the fall of Tire, profitable trade was concentrated in Alexandria.
In the 4th century. , already in our era, the barbarians who subjugated Rome took tribute not only in gold, but also in pepper, which in those days was somewhat more expensive than the despised metal.
The East made a new attempt to subjugate the flow of spices to Europe in the 11th century. , when the Seljuk Turks took possession of Asia Minor. The Europeans responded with the Crusades. Formally, the troops went to liberate Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulcher, but the crusading knights returned with bales filled with spices.
As you know, the Crusades were not very successful, so medieval Europe experienced a great shortage of spices. It should be taken into account that coffee and tea were not yet known, and traditional drinks of that time - beer, wine, sbitni - were prepared with the addition of spices. The Christian Church did not allow extensive trade with Muslims, and spices entered the European market through intermediaries - most often Jews - and small "free trade zones". This, by the way, largely explains the unprecedented prosperity of Venice, which had exclusive permission from the Holy See to trade with the East.
They did not fight over the bay leaf, since it was not monopolized by anyone - it penetrated into Europe quite quickly and was not a scarce commodity.
- Can we say that the sale of spices still brings huge amounts of money to the countries where they grow?
This is not entirely true. The demand for spices is not as great as in the old days, global sales volumes are quite average. Although the export of spices is a fairly significant source of income for some Asian countries, one should not repeat the mistakes of Madagascar. True, in this case we are talking about a bet on vanilla as the main export product for the needs of the Coca-Cola company. Then the company began using artificial vanilla for its drinks, and this significantly hit Madagascar’s budget.
In the traditions of many European peoples a symbol of triumph and victory is a laurel branch. To understand why this happened, you need to turn to the history of the Ancient world and trace the path that an ordinary tree made - from a simple plant to a symbol of victory.
Greek legends
The myths of Ancient Greece associate this triumphal symbol with Apollo, the god who was the patron of the arts and competitions. According to legend, one day Apollo fell in love with the nymph Daphne and began to persistently pursue her. The beauty tried to escape. When Apollo had almost caught her, Daphne, raising her hands, turned to her father, the god of rivers Peneus. He turned her into a slender tree. The saddened Apollo wove a wreath for himself from the leaves of this tree, in memory of And the tree was named after the unfortunate nymph. Translated, Daphne means laurel. To this day, laurel gardens and groves grow on the island of Delos, where, according to legend, the god of beauty was born. Well, the decoration from it became an indispensable attribute of the image of Apollo.
Winners symbol
Since then, the laurel tree has been inextricably linked with the name of Apollo. Since, in addition to the arts, Apollo patronized sports competitions, the laurel wreath began to be awarded not only to skilled composers, singers and artists, but also to the winners of the Pythian games, the venue of which was the Cryssaean plain. From Greece it was inherited by the Romans. The triumphal symbol of the laurel began to be intended not only for winners in sports competitions, but also for heroes who distinguished themselves in military campaigns. The Romans used laurel to follow a military victory. This award was given to a warrior for special merits - for example, for saving a comrade in battle, being the first to enter an enemy fortress, for a successful assault on an enemy city. The goddess of victory Nike always held in her hands a triumphal symbol - a laurel wreath, which was placed on the head of the winner.
Legend had it that the laurel was Jupiter's favorite tree and was never struck by lightning. IN peacetime served as an indispensable attribute of holidays and sacrifices glorifying the supreme god of the Romans. The symbol of triumph was minted on coins depicting Apollo and Jupiter. Yuri Caesar wore a wreath to all ceremonial events. Is it true, evil tongues it was claimed that the laurel wreath helped to hide the balding crown of the emperor.
Laurel among early Christians
The early Christians borrowed many symbols from the symbol of triumph - the laurel branch, which was also not forgotten. In the aesthetics of early Christianity, laurel symbolizes chastity, purity, health and longevity. Evergreen leaves perfectly symbolized eternal life which will come after the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God. Christ was also often depicted with a laurel wreath, as the One who conquered death. Some early Christian martyrs were depicted with laurel wreaths. Laurel was also revered as a plant widely used in medicine and cooking. In an era when spices were worth their weight in gold, bay leaves were truly a precious gift that could be presented even to a king.
Laurel in heraldry and faleristics
The symbol of immortality from theosophy migrated to the coats of arms and insignia of high-born aristocrats. In heraldry, laurel, like oak, is a symbol of fearlessness and valor. Golden leaves on a red background symbolized the fearless heart of a brave warrior. The triumphal symbol became especially popular in France, and was decorated with the coat of arms of the French Republic. After this, the laurel took pride of place on the coats of arms of many states. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, laurel wreaths adorned the state signs of such countries as Brazil, Guatemala, Algeria, Greece, Israel, Cuba, and Mexico.
And the insignia of many countries around the world is decorated with evergreen laurel leaves. After all, throughout the world this plant is a symbol of glory, victory and military valor, which means that awards should contain this triumphal symbol in their image. The most honorable awards European countries contain images of bay leaves.
The meaning of the laurel wreath today
Until now, the laurel wreath adorns the winners of various artistic and music competitions. The title “laureate” literally means “decorated with laurel,” which means a winner worthy of wearing this symbol of triumph. Photos of modern laureates show that today they are not decorated with wreaths like the ancient winners. It’s just that the insignia of scientists and musicians certainly contains images of laurel leaves. According to some sources, the scientific title “bachelor” also comes from the name of the laurel branch.
Thus, from the ancient past, the laurel has safely come to our time, almost without losing its symbolic meaning.
Noun, number of synonyms: 6 laurel crown (1) laurels (9) laurels of the winner (5) ... Dictionary of synonyms
Laurel wreath- Book Same as the Laurel Crown. The poem "Supreme Bliss" did not make a very strong impression on the public. The laurel wreath has already been woven for the author, but still invisibly (Karamzin. About Bogdanovich and his works). We also talked about art. How… … Phrasebook Russian literary language
Or a laurel branch since Greco-Roman antiquity, a symbol of glory, victory or peace. The triumphants wore a laurel wreath; the ships of the winners were decorated with laurels. On special occasions, the entire people were married to L.; During sacrifices, priests wore...
Laurel wreath- among the ancient Greeks and Romans, a symbol of victory, triumph, glory. A laurel wreath was decorated with faces who won in various competitions and competitions (discus throwers, runners, poets, speakers, musicians). The tradition has survived to this day.… … Architectural Dictionary
laurel wreath- A wreath of laurel leaves as a symbol of victory, triumph (the ancient Greeks and Romans awarded such a wreath to winners in various competitions and competitions) ... Dictionary of many expressions
Book Symbol of glory, victory, reward. F 1, 53... Large dictionary of Russian sayings
Laurel wreath- from the ancients Greeks and Romans symbol of victory, triumph, glory. L.v. the faces of those who won the victory were decorated. competitions and competitions (discus throwers, runners, poets, speakers, musicians) ... Ancient world. Encyclopedic Dictionary
LAUREL WREATH- The dream foretells victory in all areas of activity. Imagine being given a bucket full of laurel branches (see Bucket)… Big family dream book
Or the branch of L., since Greco-Roman antiquity a symbol of glory, victory or peace. The triumphants wore a laurel wreath; the ships of the winners were decorated with laurels. On special occasions, the entire people were married to L.; the priests wore laurel during sacrifices... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron
And (obsolete) LAUR, laurel, laurel. 1. adj. to laurel in 1 value Laurel Grove. Bay leaf (dried laurel leaf with a strong aromatic odor, used as a seasoning for dishes). 2. in meaning noun laurel, laurel, units. laurel, laurel... Dictionary Ushakova
Books
- I sent the laurel wreath for soup..., Igor Guberman. The new edition of the famous gariks by Igor Huberman includes the cycles “Chamber gariks”, “Gariks from Atlantis”, “Gnarled Swans”, as well as completely new gariks written by Huberman specifically... e-book
- Laurel wreath, Konstantin Paustovsky. The collection includes well-known stories about Russian writers and artists, as well as literary portraits Russian cultural figures of both the past and contemporaries and friends of Constantine...
Laurel is associated with masculinity, strength, the will to win and power. This plant was dedicated to the solar gods. Laurel branches and wreaths woven from it served as attributes of symbolism associated with the veneration of Jupiter and Apollo. Apollo was considered the patron saint of poets, actors and musicians, so the winners of competitions in literary grace received laurel wreaths. The laurel crown symbolized the genuine, timeless talent of the recipient. Laurel was also an attribute of the god Dionysus. In this regard, he acted as a symbol of ecstatic pleasure, otherness, magical powers and supernatural revelation.
The symbolism of the laurel is closely connected with the myth of the god Apollo and his unfortunate beloved Daphne. The cult of this female plant deity was quite widespread, but later almost completely merged with the cult of Apollo. There is information about holidays specifically dedicated to the laurel that took place in Thebes - Daphnephoria.
An ancient Greek myth tells of the beautiful nymph Daphne, the daughter of the earth goddess Gaia and the river god Peneus, who vowed to remain celibate. The lover Apollo followed her everywhere, and in order to avoid dishonor, Daphne had to ask her father to turn her into a laurel bush. Since then, laurel has become the favorite plant of the god Apollo, his attribute. The myth of Daphne echoes the motif of the dedication of the laurel to the Vestal Virgins, who took an eternal vow of celibacy. Thus, laurel symbolizes innocence and purity.
It was believed that laurel trees served as intermediaries between gods and people in the transmission of secret knowledge. There was a tradition of planting laurel bushes around the temples of Apollo. It was believed that in the rustling of these trees, initiates could read divine messages and omens of the future. Laurel was a versatile plant, very widely used in sacrifices and numerous rituals. The traditional headdress of the priest during the performance of the cult was a laurel crown. The laurel became a symbol of special supernatural power, magic, divination, clairvoyance and prophecy. Laurel branches and laurel garlands were also used in ritual actions, for example, laurel branches were often thrown into the fire along with the burnt victim, which gave the event a special solemnity.
The special symbolism of the laurel as a sacred plant of the god Apollo is manifested in its use by the Pythia, the seer of the Delphic Oracle. To find out their fate and ask advice from the prophetess Pythia, kings, heroes, and mere mortals came to the temple of Apollo in Delphi. In the sanctuary, hidden from prying eyes, on a cleft in the rock that emitted poisonous gases, there was a tripod on which the Pythia sat . She prepared for divination for a long time. This procedure was preceded by three days of fasting and ritual ablutions. During fortune telling, a laurel crown was placed on the Pythia's head, and before starting the prophecy, she chewed laurel leaves.
Laureate's wreath
A laurel wreath is a symbol of victory, perfection, complete triumph over one’s own weaknesses and over an opponent. In antiquity, laurel wreaths were awarded to warrior heroes, as well as to poets who won competitions, who were patronized by the god of arts Apollo. The goddess of victory Nike seemed to the ancients beautiful woman, placing a laurel crown on the hero's head. The word "laureate", meaning the winner of an artistic or scientific competition who has received high recognition and a prize, comes precisely from the Latin "crowned with laurel".
The ancient Greeks believed that Apollo patronized singers, musicians and poets, so it was on the heads of the best of them that wreaths from the Laurel were placed. Some time passed and this custom spread to other segments of the population. Laurel wreath Now the winner at sports competitions could receive it, and the same wreath could be used to decorate a beautiful sculpture.
The tradition of rewarding the best with a wreath of laurel leaves has survived to this day.
Many people do not even suspect that the expression " laurels of the winner"either term" laureate" are directly related to the name of this humble plant. Today, the appearance of images of laurel tree leaves in the form of a wreath in heraldic science is taken for granted.
Rediscovered this one ancient symbol and began to be widely used in heraldry after the French Revolution, which occurred in 1789 - 1794 years. It was after the bourgeois revolution in France that Laurel branches appeared on its coat of arms. This sign means glory and victory and is located on coats of arms, as well as heraldic symbols many countries of the world. Today it can be found on many coins, both ancient and modern.
Since this tree produces huge amount essential oils, then this will allow the Laurel to constantly have a green tint. It is precisely this circumstance that can explain the origin of the legend of the Laurel wreath, a symbol of eternal life. In early Christianity, unlike Ancient Rome the symbol of the laurel branch meant eternal life, which bestows Jesus Christ by his painful death on the cross.
Without any doubt, myths are cultural heritage of all humanity, however, the bay leaf gained its fame as a spice due to its delicate smell. Moreover, it is difficult to find in nature such a plant that would live and develop throughout 1000
years.
Another symbol for placing a wreath on the head of the winner is a wish for him many years life.
All Christian saints have halos around their heads, this is nothing more than an imitation of the Ancient Romans to designate distinguished person laurel wreath above his head.
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