Olive branch

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For the city, see Olive Branch, Mississippi.

Olive branch

The olive branch is a branch of an olive tree. In Western culture, derived from the customs of Ancient Greece, it symbolizes peace or goodwill. The original link between olive branches and peace is unknown. Some explanations center on that olive trees take a very long time to bear fruit. Thus the cultivation of olives is something that is generally impossible in time of war.^[1]

1 Jewish
2 Ancient Greece and Rome
3 Modern usage
4 Other uses
5 See also
6 References

[edit] Jewish

From the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible, a white dove carrying an olive branch is a sign of peace. After the Great Flood, in order to find land, Noah released a dove. The dove came back carrying an olive leaf in its beak (Noach 8:11), which informed Noah that God had taken mercy on humanity and caused the flood to recede:

And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.^[2]

God then caused a rainbow to appear in the sky^[3]as a symbol of his covenant with mankind never to destroy the earth by water again.

This story has led to the dove and the olive branch (combined with the classical tradition) to become symbols of peace. The rainbow may also represent peace, whereby God directs His "bow" toward Himself, an ancient symbol of a cessation of hostilities.^{[citation needed]} The motif can also represent "hope for peace" or a peace offering from one man to another, as in the phrase "extend an olive branch".

[edit] Ancient Greece and Rome

Peace and prosperity

In Greek mythology, Zeus bestowed the newly created city of Athens to the god providing the most useful gift to humanity. Poseidon offered a war chariot with a fully equipped war horse. Athena offered the olive tree.^[4] Olive wreaths were worn by brides^[5] and awarded to olympic victors.^[6]

The symbolism of the olive branch was carried on to Ancient Rome, where a defeated army would carry olive branches as a gesture of peace.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Modern usage

Olive branches are used throughout modern and classical works to represent peace. The eagle on the Great Seal of the United States grasps with its right talon an olive branch containing thirteen olives and leaves^[7], while the flags of many nations and the seal of the United Nations feature olive branches in their design. Images of olive branches are also used in many police patches and badges across the world to signify peace.