One of which is laurel, people have always treated it in a special way. They were seen as the personification of eternity, constancy - in a word, everything that was traditionally opposed to the transience of human life. The glory of the winner should be eternal - in any case, people wanted to believe so.
Apollo tree
It is noteworthy that athletes in Ancient Greece they were not crowned with laurels; for them, a sign of victory was a wreath of olive branches or... celery. The award in the form of a laurel wreath was intended for the best winners of the Pythian Games, which took place in Delphi. Over time, these games also began to include sports competitions, but their main content has always remained the competition between poets and musicians - in a word, those who are still called “servants of Apollo” today. The laurel was dedicated to this patron god of art. Why him?This connection had a real basis: these trees grew on Mount Parnassus, which the Greeks revered as the abode of the muses and Apollo Musagetes. But it would be strange if it did not give rise to legends explaining the connection between art.
Apollo, like many Greek gods, was distinguished by his love of love. One day, a nymph named Daphne became the object of his passion, but the beauty vowed to remain chaste and was not going to give in to his advances. The unfortunate woman begged the gods to protect her from Apollo’s persecution, and the gods heeded the plea: instead of the girl, a laurel tree appeared in Apollo’s arms. God placed a wreath of laurel on his head so as not to part with his beloved, who had been turned into a tree.
Further history of the symbol
The laurel wreath as a symbol of glory and victory was adopted from Greece by another ancient civilization - the ancient Roman one. In contrast to refined Hellas, harsh Rome does not recognize any glory and any victories in a military coma. The symbolism of the laurel wreath is changing: it is used to crown a triumphant commander; it was initially worn by Roman emperors as a sign of power.Christians saw a new meaning in this symbol. For them, the lava wreath became the personification eternal glory martyrs who died for the faith.
The connection of the laurel wreath with poetic glory is resurrected in the era that succeeds antiquity. In 1341 one of the greatest poets Italian Renaissance– Francesco Petrarca – in the hall of the senatorial palace on the Capitol in Rome received from the hands of the senator laurel wreath as recognition of his poetic achievements. This gave the poet a reason to play on the name of the woman he sang, whose name also comes from the word “laurel”: Laura gave him the laurel.
By the 17th century, the laurel wreath had already firmly established itself as an emblem of glory in general, not only poetic. He is depicted on orders and awards for winning competitions. It is in this form that modern civilization inherited this symbol. Not only the word “laureate” goes back to him, but also the name of the bachelor’s degree.
The desire for triumph, glory and global achievements - all this is a symbolic image of the laurel wreath tattoo. Despite such a positive interpretation, the tattoo has a contradictory meaning. What meaning does it carry in itself, what sketch to choose to attract fortune to life?
Laurel in history and myths
The 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 in ancient times. In Rome, it represented peace after victory over enemies. That is why laurel wreaths were awarded to the best warriors for their services in battles and battles. Emperors also decorated their heads with sprigs of the plant as a sign of power, glory and honor. Another meaning of laurel is piety and chastity. By the way, in the Christian religion it 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 woo her, not suspecting 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 reward for outstanding artists.
Who is the tattoo suitable for?
A laurel wreath tattoo in modern body art means determination, vanity, wisdom, glory, and 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, and self-confidence help such a person on the path to his dream. His goal is not just to live the life of an average person, but to reach unprecedented heights and climb to the top of some Olympus.
Musicians, writers, poets, dancers, actors and other people in creative professions often wear a laurel wreath tattoo as an amulet. The image gives them inspiration, hope for the fulfillment of their desires, and helps in their career. For the tattoo to have magical properties, it should be applied to closed areas of the body. This type of tattoo is equally relevant for men and women.
The meaning of a laurel wreath tattoo in prison is somewhat different. Such a tattoo indicates that the person is serving a sentence for a crime he did not commit. This interpretation of laurel is taken from Christianity, where the plant is a symbol of martyrdom.
Application technique
The laurel wreath is considered more of a masculine symbol, so it is advisable to choose a sketch in black and white. You can choose the graphic style. It is quite simple and concise, but at the same time modern. The image is done using black ink and shading only. For a small pattern, the inside of the arm, wrist, chest, neck, ankle are suitable.
For lovers original ideas Old school technique will do. Despite the rich colors, wide contours and clear lines, the tattoo does not look provocative. The tattoo can be supplemented with ribbons or inscriptions, given semantic load. Best places for applying large-scale compositions - back, shoulder, leg, thigh or lower leg.
A selection of photos of tattoos with a wreath
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 related to 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 sacred plant the god Apollo is manifested in his 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".
