What does a Laurel wreath tattoo mean? Laurel wreath

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 transience human life. The glory of the winner should be eternal - in any case, people wanted to believe so.

Apollo tree

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

They 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 greatest poets Italian Renaissance- Francesco Petrarca - in the hall of the senatorial palace on the Capitol in Rome, accepted from the hands of the senator 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.

TO XVII century The laurel wreath has already firmly established itself as an emblem of glory in general, not only poetic. He is depicted in and for winning competitions. In this form, she inherited this symbol modern civilization. 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 a 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 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, extraordinary mind, confidence in own strength 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 achieve unprecedented heights and climb to the top of some Olympus.

Musicians, writers, poets, dancers, actors and other people creative professions A laurel wreath tattoo is often applied 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 male 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. Tattoos can be supplemented with ribbons or inscriptions to add meaning. Best places for applying large-scale compositions - back, shoulder, leg, thigh or lower leg.

A selection of photos of tattoos with a wreath

The sweet taste of victory, deafening applause, world fame and enthusiastic exclamations of admirers in honor of conquered peaks and new open horizons... All this is inextricably linked in our minds with such stable expressions as “to win the palm,” “to be kissed by Fortune” and “to 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 the words listed, much less delve into the history of their appearance. Nevertheless, it is the awareness of the simplest truths that often turns out to be one of the most complex 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 in general. You don’t need to be an expert in biology to understand what this expression actually means.

The name of this item is quite obviously connected with one of the most ancient symbols borrowed from the world of flora - the laurel tree, common in the Mediterranean. However, the history of the origin of this symbol 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 his amazing beauty, grace and masculinity, he is considered a kind of ideal of male stature 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 story love.

Arrow of Eros

According to myths, the beautiful son of Zeus, in addition to a keen 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 was inflamed 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 was never able to catch up with her - exhausted, the nymph called out to her father, asking him for help and salvation. Peneus answered the plea of ​​his beloved daughter in a very unique way - Daphne’s thin frame was covered with bark, her hands turned into branches stretched to the sky, and her hair was replaced by green laurel leaves.

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

First sign of victory

Nevertheless, this ending is quite sad story turned out to be not so gloomy. Everyone knows that a laurel wreath is a symbol of victory in modern world. This is precisely the meaning that the ancient Greeks put into it, rewarding best participants Pythian games, organized 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 of this evergreen plant with a sad history.

Laurus and other peoples

This tree had deep meaning and power not only for the Greeks and Romans, who inherited their traditions. The laurel wreath also had another meaning. For example, residents ancient China he symbolized eternal life and revival.

In the Christian tradition, this tree is almost inextricably linked with the funeral ceremony, since laurel wreaths were used, as a rule, at funerals.

Becoming a symbol of victory

Few people know, but modern understanding This unique decoration appeared largely thanks 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 decorated 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, organizing numerous games and grandiose competitions. Decorating the head with a laurel wreath as a reward was in those days only available to outstanding wrestlers or, for example, spear throwers.

Nevertheless, times change, and traditions change along with them - in the modern world, not only athletes, but also outstanding figures of culture, art, science and even journalism are every now and then awarded 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 an actual material embodiment of the victory won. Nevertheless, medals, cups and certificates decorated with this floral ornament cannot be called a rarity at all today. The symbol of victory, which arose in the distant times of Antiquity, has survived to this day, transformed over time, but without losing its greatness.

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 look at history. Ancient world and trace the path that made common tree- 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 the 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 said that laurel - favorite tree Jupiter, and it was never struck by lightning. In peacetime, it 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, gossips 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 the eternal life that will come after atoning sacrifice 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 indeed they were a precious gift that could be given 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.

Medals, orders and insignia of many countries around the world are 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 honorary awards of European states contain images of laurel 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.

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 the story of the beautiful nymph Daphne, the daughter of the earth goddess Gaia and the river god Peneus, who vowed to remain chaste. 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 soothsayer 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 was represented by the ancients as a 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".