What Is The Significance Of The Olive Branch?

The olive branch symbolizes peace and forgiveness in several cultures around the world. In ancient Greece the olive branch signified peace and prosperity while in the Roman Age an olive branch was offered to seek peace in times of war. There are several hypotheses regarding the origin of the olive branch representing peace.

According to one belief olive trees took a long time to bear fruit and hence could be grown in times of peace only which may have resulted in them being associated with times of harmony and goodwill. Another idea is that after the Great Flood a dove released by Noah returned with an olive branch signifying that land was in sight and that peace was again descending on Earth.

The olive branch was also mentioned in Greek Mythology when Zeus wanted to name the newly created city that came to be later known as Athens; Zeus preferred the gift of the goddess Athena which was an olive plant signifying peace over the Sea God Poseidon's gift which was a horse signifying war. The olive branch is found on the flag of several countries; the seal of the United Nations and the United States depict an olive branch.

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