The desire for triumph, glory and global achievements - all this is a symbolic image of a tattoo Laurel wreath. Despite such a positive interpretation, the tattoo has a controversial meaning. What meaning does it carry in itself, which sketch to choose in order to bring fortune to life?
Laurel in history and myths
Laurel is traditionally considered a symbol of victory, and even the word "laureate" is literally translated from Latin as "crowned with laurel." The plant was respected and revered since ancient times. In Rome, it personified peace after victory over enemies. That is why laurel wreaths were awarded to the best warriors for merit in battles and battles. Emperors also decorated their heads with plant branches as a sign of power, glory and honor. Another meaning of laurel is piety and chastity. By the way, in the Christian religion, he symbolized martyrdom and immortality.
The ancient Greeks had a myth about the patron of the arts, the god Apollo and the nymph Daphne. Apollo fell in love with the girl and began to seek her favor, unaware that she had taken a vow of chastity. Daphne had to turn to higher powers for help, and the gods turned the nymph into a laurel tree. Since then, the plant has become a sacred symbol of Apollo and the highest award for outstanding artists.
Who is the tattoo suitable for?
Laurel wreath tattoo in modern body painting means determination, vanity, wisdom, glory, courage. A person with a similar body pattern is a maximalist by nature and sets high goals for himself. He achieves what he wants by any means, strives for universal recognition, respect and glory. Belief in victory, an extraordinary mind, self-confidence help such a person on the way to a dream. His goal is not just to live the life of an average person, but to reach unprecedented heights and ascend to the top of some Olympus.
Musicians, writers, poets, dancers, actors and other people of creative professions often tattoo a laurel wreath as an amulet. The image gives them inspiration, hope for the fulfillment of desires, helps in their careers. In order for a tattoo to have magical properties, it should be applied to closed areas of the body. Such a tattoo is relevant equally for men and women.
The meaning of a laurel wreath tattoo in prison is somewhat different. Such a tattoo indicates that a person is serving a sentence for a crime he has not committed. This interpretation of the laurel is taken from Christianity, where the plant is a symbol of martyrdom.
Application technique
The laurel wreath is considered to be more of a male symbol, so it is advisable to choose a sketch in black and white. You can opt for the chart style. It is quite simple and concise, but at the same time modern. The image is made only with black ink and shading. For a small drawing, the inside of the arm, wrist, chest, neck, ankle are suitable.
lovers original ideas old school technique is suitable. Despite the rich colors, wide contours and clear lines, the tattoo does not look defiant. Tattoo can be supplemented with ribbons or inscriptions, give semantic load. Best Places for applying large-scale compositions - back, shoulder, leg, thigh or lower leg.
A selection of photos of a tattoo with a wreath
IN ancient Greek culture the laurel represented victory and peace and was dedicated to Apollo and Dionysus. According to the myth, Apollo pursued the nymph Daphne, who had given her word to remain chaste. Daphne prayed for help, and the gods turned her into a laurel tree, which Apollo hugged in vain. From now on, the laurel became his sacred plant. That is why in Greece musicians, poets, dancers, whose patron was Apollo, were awarded with laurel wreaths, while athletes, athletes were crowned with olive or celery wreaths. Laurel groves grew on the top of Parnassus, the abode of the Muses, and surrounded the temples of Apollo. Festive garlands and wreaths were woven from laurel leaves; at the festivities in honor of Apollo, the audience wore laurel wreaths. Laurels were credited with not only healing power, but also the power of cleansing from spiritual defilement. Laurel leaves were ritually cleansed of spilled blood, Apollo cleansed himself with them after the killing of Python. The goddess of victory, Nike, was depicted with a laurel wreath in her hands, which she places on the heads of the victorious heroes.
IN Ancient Rome the laurel wreath becomes the highest sign of military and imperial glory. It symbolized the peace coming after the victory over the enemy. Messages of victory and victorious weapons were wrapped around laurel and folded in front of the image of Jupiter. Laurel wreaths and branches were depicted on coins and gems as attributes of Jupiter and Apollo. The first Roman emperors did not wear crowns, but adorned their heads with a laurel wreath. In ancient Rome, orators and poets also aspired to possess a laurel wreath. In addition, the laurel was dedicated to the vestal virgins and personified purity.
IN early Christianity evergreen laurel leaves were considered a symbol of eternal life or new life, which will come thanks to the redemptive deeds of Christ, and a wreath of laurel symbolized martyrdom. St. Paul contrasts the incorruptible crown, with which a Christian ascetic is crowned, with the perishable crown, which is received by the victorious on the lists.
Already in Hellenistic era laurel becomes a symbol of glory as such, and a laurel wreath or laurel branch - an emblem of glory. In the Middle Ages, laurel was not used in classical heraldry. But after the French Revolution of 1789, the laurel became the most popular emblem of France: laurel branches were included in the emblem of the French Republic, and in our time they are also included in the state emblems of Algeria, Brazil, Greece, Israel, Cuba, Mexico and other countries
IN the art of classicism laurel has become widespread as the main emblem of glory. It is found on awards received for successful participation in competitions by scientists, artists, musicians, poets, writers (who are therefore called laureates), as well as on most orders - signs of lifetime glory
Ovid's "Metamorphoses"
Daphne
The bright, joyful god Apollo knows sadness, and grief befell him. He knew grief shortly after defeating Python. When Apollo, proud of his victory, stood over the monster slain by his arrows, he saw near him the young god of love Eros, pulling his golden bow. Laughing, Apollo said to him:
“What do you need, child, such a formidable weapon?” Leave it to me to send out the smashing golden arrows with which I just killed Python. Are you equal in glory with me, the archer? Do you want to achieve more fame than me?
Offended, Eros proudly answered Apollo:
“Your arrows, Phoebus-Apollo, do not know a miss, they smash everyone, but my arrow will hit you.
Eros waved his golden wings and in the blink of an eye flew up to the high Parnassus. There he took out two arrows from the quiver: one - wounding the heart and causing love, he pierced the heart of Apollo with it, the other - killing love, he launched it into the heart of the nymph Daphne, daughter of the river god Peneus.
Once I met the beautiful Daphne Apollo and fell in love with her. But as soon as Daphne saw the golden-haired Apollo, she started to run with the speed of the wind, because the arrow of Eros, which kills love, pierced her heart. The silver-eyed god hurried after her.
- Stop, beautiful nymph, - Apollo called out, - why are you running from me, like a lamb pursued by a wolf, Like a dove fleeing from an eagle, you rush! After all, I'm not your enemy! Look, you hurt your legs on the sharp thorns of the blackthorn. Oh wait, stop! After all, I am Apollo, the son of the Thunderer Zeus, and not a simple mortal shepherd.
But the beautiful Daphne ran faster and faster. As if on wings, Apollo rushes after her. He is getting closer. Now it's coming! Daphne feels his breath. The strength leaves her. Daphne prayed to her father Peneus:
"Father Penei, help me!" Part quickly, earth, and devour me! Oh, take away this image from me, it causes me only suffering!
As soon as she said this, her limbs immediately became numb. The bark covered her delicate body, her hair turned into foliage, and her hands raised to the sky turned into branches. For a long time, sad Apollo stood before the laurel and, finally, said:
“Let a wreath of only your greenery decorate my head, let you now decorate with your leaves both my cithara and my quiver. May your greenery never wither, O laurel! Stay green forever!
And the laurel quietly rustled in response to Apollo with its thick branches and, as if in a sign of consent, bowed its green top.
Delphi
Hulks hampered the path of the ridges.
In the valleys there is shadow and mist.
The Phaedrias burn in the sun
And Zeus's eagles call.
The greatness of secrets and ancient power
In the soul will give birth to holy fear.
Mute laurel groves,
And the echo multiplies every sound.
Along the channels of the ditches, at the bottom of the gorges
The silence of gray streams is not silent.
From the ulcers of the earth, from the mountain cracks,
Like steam, a misty breath rises.
Here, crowned with a vine, -
To the valley of Delphi, to the mouth of the earth
pious path
Prayers brought me.
I sailed the sea for a dolphin,
And at noon a white star
Me across the scorched plains
Led to the serpent's nest.
But the foremother of Gaia is not free
Give birth to sons. Python is silent
And guard the serpent's cave
Sacred laurel, Delphic wolf.
And where Gad crawls gloomy
Darkened the half-day ghost of the day,
A stream of cold and transparent
Oozing to dig a horse.
And where the quiver tinkled with a threat
And the god pierced the snake with an arrow,
The righteous oracle speaks
And bitter laurel in the mouth of the sibyls.
And a wild olive branch
Keeps under the gracious shadow,
Where is the god of the persecuted Orestes
Eumenides hid from anger.
In elemental chaos - the order of the law.
On the abyss of the spirit - the splendor of robes.
And the slain Dionysus -
In the coffin in front of the temple of Apollo!
The ancient Greeks believed that Apollo patronized singers, musicians and poets, so it was on the heads of the best of them that Laurus wreaths were hoisted. Some time passed and this custom spread to other segments of the population. Laurel wreath now the winner in sports competitions could get, the same wreath could decorate a beautiful sculpture.
The tradition of awarding the best with a wreath of Laurel leaves has survived to this day.
Many do not even suspect that the expression " winner's laurels"either term" laureate" are directly related to the name of this modest plant. Today, the appearance of images of leaves from a laurel tree in the form of a wreath in heraldic science is taken for granted.
This ancient symbol was rediscovered and began to be massively used in heraldry after the French Revolution, which took place in 1789 - 1794 years. It was after the bourgeois coup in France that Laurel branches appeared on its coat of arms. This sign means glory and victory and is located on the coats of arms, as well as heraldic symbols of many countries of the world. Today it can be found on many coins, both ancient and modern .
Since this tree produces a huge amount of essential oils in its leaves, this will allow the Laurus to constantly have a green tint. It is precisely in this circumstance that the origin of the legend of the Laurel wreath, as a symbol of eternal life, can be explained. In early Christianity, unlike Ancient Rome, the symbol of the laurel branch meant eternal life that bestows Jesus Christ his painful death on the cross.
Without any doubt, myths are the cultural heritage of all mankind, however, Bay leaf gained its fame as a spice because of its delicate smell. Moreover, it is difficult to find such a plant in nature that would live and develop over 1000
years.
Another designation of raising a wreath on the head of the winner is the wish for a long life.
All Christian saints have halos around their heads, this is nothing more than an imitation of the Ancient Romans to designate an outstanding face with a laurel wreath above their heads.
Read more.
Laurel is a natural non-heraldic figure that has become very widespread in international, territorial and tribal heraldry.
Laurel leaves are a symbol of wisdom, greatness, glory. The symbol is of ancient Greek origin.
According to the myth, the god of the sun, dawn and poetry, Apollo, was nicknamed Phoebus, which means “radiant” or “radiant” in ancient Greek, pursued the nymph Daphne, who, hiding from him, turned into a laurel bush (in Greek, laurel is called “daphne”). Thus, in the arms of Apollo, there was a small tree, with the branches of which he decorated his head and lyre. So in Greece, the laurel wreath became a reward for those who achieved fame. It is for this reason that in Greece, musicians, poets, as well as dancers, whose patron was Apollo, were awarded laurel wreaths. And athletes, athletes were awarded with olive or celery wreaths.
In ancient Rome, the laurel wreath became a symbol of the highest glory, including military, as well as imperial.
In the Middle Ages, laurel leaves and wreaths were not used in classical heraldry. After the French Revolution of 1789, the laurel becomes one of the most popular emblems of France.
Laurel branches or wreaths are also included in the state emblems and emblems of the following countries: the coat of arms of Greece, the emblem of Algeria, the coat of arms of El Salvador, the coat of arms of Guatemala, the coat of arms of Mexico, the coat of arms of Uruguay, the coat of arms of Brazil, the coat of arms of Israel.
Bay leaves are usually depicted in natural green, white (silver), and also yellow (gold).
Laurel leaves on coats of arms
| - coat of arms of the city of Osveya (Vitebsk region, Belarus) | |
| - coat of arms of the city of Slavgorod (Altai Territory, Russia) | |
Laurel trees and wreaths on coats of arms
Sources
- "Dictionary of International Symbols and Emblems" V.V. Pokhlebkin 2001. ISBN 5-7133-0869-3.
The sweet taste of victory, deafening applause, world fame and enthusiastic exclamations of admirers in honor of the conquered peaks and new open horizons ... All this is inextricably linked in our minds with such stable expressions as "win the palm", "be kissed by Fortune" and " put a laurel wreath on your head. All this has become so familiar and ordinary for us that few people even think about the meaning of these words, and even more so do not delve into the history of their appearance. Nevertheless, it is the realization of the simplest truths that often turns out to be one of the most difficult tasks, and therefore it is sometimes very important to understand the essence of them.
Appeal to flora
Like many other realities of our modern life, such a concept as a “laurel wreath” originates in ancient Greece, at the very origins of our cultural traditions, beliefs and views on art and the world as a whole. You do not need to be a specialist in the field of biology in order to understand what, in fact, this expression is associated with.
The name of this item is quite obviously connected with one of the ancient symbols, borrowed from the world of flora, - a laurel tree common in the Mediterranean. Nevertheless, the history of the emergence of this symbol is much more complex and romantic. In order to understand the essence of the meaning, one should turn to Greek mythology.
Connection with the golden-haired god
For a person who understands Antiquity, a laurel wreath is inextricably linked with the name of Apollo, the son of the powerful Zeus and the goddess Leto. Traditionally, this representative of the Greek pantheon is depicted as a beautiful young man with a bow in his hand and a harp behind his back. Thanks to amazing beauty, grace and masculinity, it is he who is considered a kind of ideal of the male body and appearance in general. And the famous laurel wreath adorns the head of Apollo, the appearance of which is associated with a romantic but tragic love story.
Arrow of Eros
According to myths, the beautiful son of Zeus, in addition to a sharp eye and the gift of foresight, also had an excessively large conceit, for which he later had to pay. Eros, who decided to teach Apollo a lesson, pierced his heart with a magic arrow of love, and the young man burned with love for the daughter of the river god Peneus, the nymph Daphne.
Fate was not favorable to the beautiful god, and the girl did not share his feelings. Obeying the torment of his heart, Apollo rushed in pursuit of Daphne, but he failed to catch up with her - exhausted, the nymph called out to her father, asking him for help and salvation. Peneus answered the prayer of his beloved daughter in a very peculiar way - Daphne's thin camp was covered with bark, her hands turned into branches stretched out to the sky, and her hair was replaced by green bay leaves.
Realizing that he was not destined to be with his beloved, the son of Zeus wove a wreath as a memory of the unrequited feeling for the beautiful nymph, which later became his symbol and permanent attribute.
First sign of victory
Nevertheless, the ending of this rather sad story was not so gloomy. Everyone knows that the laurel wreath is a symbol of victory in modern world. It was this meaning that the ancient Greeks invested in it, rewarding the best participants in the Pythian games, which were held to honor the god of beauty and sunlight, Apollo. Since then, the world has made it a tradition to crown the head of the winner with a wreath from this evergreen plant with a sad history.
Lavr and other nations
This tree had a deep meaning and power not only for the Greeks and Romans, who inherited their traditions. The laurel wreath also had a different meaning. For example, among the inhabitants of ancient China, it symbolized eternal life and rebirth.
In the Christian tradition, this tree is almost inextricably linked with the funeral ceremony, since it was laurel wreaths that were used, as a rule, at funerals.
Becoming a symbol of victory
Few people know, but modern understanding This kind of decoration appeared largely due to the Great French bourgeois revolution. It was then that the laurel wreath - a symbol of victory - became such, entering heraldry. In the 18th century, the branches of this plant adorned the coat of arms of the French Republic, and then the banners of other countries.
Value conversion
It is no secret that the ancient Greeks, and then the Romans, paid great attention to sports, arranging numerous games and grandiose competitions. Decorating the head with a laurel wreath as a reward was at that time only available to outstanding wrestlers or, for example, javelin throwers.
Nevertheless, times are changing, and traditions are changing along with them - in the modern world, not only athletes, but also outstanding figures of culture, art, science and even journalism every now and then are honored with the privilege of crowning their heads with a wreath of laurel leaves.
The biggest difference is that today it has become more of a common figurative expression than the actual material embodiment of a victory won. Nevertheless, medals, cups and certificates decorated with this floral ornament cannot be called a rarity today. The symbol of victory, which arose in the distant times of Antiquity, has survived to this day, having been transformed over time, but without losing its greatness.
