Rose Plant Garden Nursery Landscaping Guide
Rose Plant In Mythology And History
By Jeremy Goldstar
The history of the growing rose plant seems to be as long as
that of human beings; in fact roses might even be older than humans,
if the apparent fossil evidence is correct.
In a way, humans and roses have grown up together, so it’s no
wonder why people all through history have cherished these flowers
and included them in so many of their special occasions.
People have admired their beauty and granted them special symbolism,
and the meaning of roses has been entwined with humanity all through
recorded history.
Roses In Hindu Myths And Greek Mythology
Roses certainly entered the myths of the world quite early on.
Different types of roses have figured even in Hindu myths, where
the rose occasionally rivals the more usual lotus flower.
In Greek mythology, Chloris, the goddess of flowers, was said
to have created the rose by turning a dead nymph into a flower
and inviting all the gods to bestow gifts of beauty upon her.
Goddess Diana Turned Rodanthe Into A Rose
Rose plants came from a different source in Roman mythology,
however. When the suitors of a young woman named Rodanthe became
violent, the goddess Diana turned the woman into a rose, with
the suitors as her thorns.
As far as historians can tell, it was in the lands that eventually
amalgamated to become China that the first rose plants were explicitly
cultivated five millennia ago.
Whether the art of rose cultivation spread west from there, or
whether cultures like Bronze Age Crete or the later Roman Empire
learned this art independently, no one can say.
Peasant Farmers Were Forced Into Rose Gardening
But the Romans eventually prized these flowers so obsessively
that they forced peasant farmers to learn rose gardening, turning
entire farms to the growing of these bushes, so that city aristocrats
could be supplied with the blooms for their baths, medicines and
other uses.
Through much early European history, roses seemed to have been
forgotten, but all of that changed when Crusaders returned with
rose plants from the holy lands. Islam revered the rose among
many other beautiful flowers, and soon the rose became highly
prized in western nations as well.
Roses Have Become Easier To Grow
Rose garden design became a pastime of many noble and royal families,
and royal gardens of roses became showplaces of the beautiful
flowers. Finally, these blooms were brought to ordinary people
as they became easier to grow, and new hybrids were created.
Roses and humans have traveled a long road together, from China
through the middle east and finally to the rest of the world.
The two are still journeying through history together.
About the Author:
Jeremy Goldstar has written a number of articles on gardening
and landscaping including Self
Watering Planters.
Keep a lookout for more of his articles on this website.
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