Roses
Amongst all the flowers known to humanity, few conjures up the same image of beauty as a Rose. Even the logical Sherlock Holmes paused an investigation to comment on its significance.
“What a lovely thing a rose is!”
He walked past the couch to the open window and held up the drooping stalk of a moss-rose, looking down at the dainty blend of crimson and green. It was a new phase of his character to me, for I had never before seen him show any keen interest in natural objects.
“There is nothing in which deduction is so necessary as in religion,” said he, leaning with his back against the shutters. “It can be built up as an exact science by the reasoner. Our highest assurance of the goodness of Providence seems to me to rest in the flowers. All other things, our powers, our desires, our food, are all really necessary for our existence in the first instance. But this rose is an extra. Its smell and its colour are an embellishment of life, not a condition of it. It is only goodness which gives extras, and so I say again that we have much to hope from the flowers.” (The Naval Treaty)
Let's learn more about Roses.
A beautiful history
Roses are naturally occurring flowers, and their being cultivated goes back a long way, all the way to ancient times. And so does their appeal. Stories have it that there were times when farmers were required, by royal decree, to plant roses rather than food.
So, let's break the history down a little more.
Persians
According to the Persians, the origin of the rose began when the flowers made a complaint to Heaven that their flower queen, the lotus blossom, slept at night. The divine solution, create a new flower. A white rose.
This new flower quickly gained an admirer, the nightingale. However, the bird gets cut by a thorn and ends up bleeding on this flower.
Roses have been red ever since.
Greece
The Greek connection with roses follows along a very similar line. In Greek mythology the red rose color is attributed to Aphrodite, the goddess of love – hence its connection with love and a couple in love.
The story has it that Aphrodite fell in love with a mortal named Adonis. Adonis was, according to the tale, both an exceptional hunter and exceptionally handsome. One day, despite being warned, be goes hunting and is mauled by a wild boar. Swiftly Aphrodite flies to her love, but it is too late. In route she is pricked by a white rose and, as with the Persians, roses have been red ever since.
Extra note: Yes, Greek stories always end in disaster.
The Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David,1787
Egypt
Cleopatra loved using the mythological importance of roses for self-promotion. In public ceremonies, large amounts of rose petals were used so that she would smell sweet like a goddess. When meeting with the roman Marc Anthony, she really laid on the rose petals so that he would later associate the sweet rose smell with her. Apparently, it did the trick.
The Meeting of Antony and Cleopatra by Lawrence Alma-Tadema
Rome
Rome was no less enthusiastic about the rose than the others. Some scattered rose petals under their chariot wheels (I don't explain, I just report). Emperors would scatter petals on festive occasions as we might scatter confetti.
Of course, the Romans also associated the rose with love and thereupon hangs an interesting Roman application of roses. To the Romans, this association with love brings Cupid, the god of desire, into the picture. Of course, we all have heard about Cupid's arrow that causes its target to fall in love. But what is perhaps less well known is that Cupid also had the power over keeping secrets.
So, if you're a Roman involved in a conversation that you want to be kept hushed you might hold your conversation under some roses. In this way, Cupid might help keep your conversation a secret.
Christianity
The historical relationship between roses and Christianity has been one of extremes. Originally, Christians connected roses with the decadence of Rome and especially its Emperors. It left a bad taste in their mouths.
Later things changed and the red rose became symbolic of religious devotion (more below). Now roses made their way into church windows and the rosary used by millions of Catholics to this day.
Being modern
There are a couple hundred naturally occurring varieties of roses. Yet an explosion of garden roses began in 1867 when the first Hybrid Tea rose was produced by Jean-Baptiste André Guillot. Now there are thousands of varieties of roses of all kinds and names.
What’s in a color?
Roses come in a variety of colors (colours if you're English). Each one has come to have its own, specific meaning. Here are some:
White – Innocence and purity, hence its use as bridal bouquets. By extension, it has also been associated with new beginnings and eternal love.
Ivory – Charm, thoughtfulness and grace.
Yellow – Used to represent jealousy, now it represents friendship, joy and caring. And of course, it is now associated with Texas.
Peach – Gratitude and sincerity.
Red – Red roses mean love. But it also has represented passion in all its variety. This is why the red rose was adopted as a symbol by Christianity, representing a religious zeal or passion.
Thus this beautiful little flower has bloomed its way into our collective hearts and minds. Roses are everywhere.
On the web
Old Garden Roses: The Gallicas
This video traces some of the history of the rose.
This website discusses different uses for the rose petal.
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