As previously mentioned, the Greeks celebrated the importance of grains through worship of the goddess Demeter. This is just one example of how one of their legends related to the natural world. They also held ivy and laurel in high regard, with the two plants treated as symbols of prominent legends.
Ivy
An evergreenplant that maintains its verdantcolor even in the depths of winter, ivy represented immortality to the Greeks. It is closely connected to the Greek god of wine—Dionysus—who is typically depicted as wearing a crown made of ivy. In addition, the staff♦ he carries has an ivy vineon it.
Laurel
Like ivy, the laurel tree thrives year-round, and was also held in high esteem by the ancient Greeks. The tree’s leaves and branches have often been made into wreaths, which are occasionally still worn as a symbol of success—academic, literary, or athletic. In the 2004 Summer Olympics, for example, medal winners received laurel crowns. The word laureate✽is based on the plant as well, and is used to describe a person who has been honored for reaching distinction in a particular field. In Greek mythology, the nymph Daphne was turned into a laurel tree by her father to escape the advancesof Apollo, the god of the sun. A famous sculpture in the Galleria Borghese depicts this scene.
As these examples demonstrate, ancient cultures had deep respect for nature and created many legends and myths to honor it. These amazing stories remain a colorful aspect of folkloreand history.
