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Palm branch

(Redirected fromMartyr's palm)

Thepalm branch,orpalm frond,is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace, and eternal life originating in the ancientNear EastandMediterranean world.The palm(Phoenix)was sacred inMesopotamian religions,and inancient Egyptrepresented immortality. InJudaism,thelulav,a closedfrondof thedate palmis part of thefestivalofSukkot.A palm branch was awarded to victorious athletes inancient Greece,and a palm frond or the tree itself is one of the most common attributes ofVictory personifiedinancient Rome.

The Palm LeafbyWilliam-Adolphe Bouguereau(1825–1905), portrait of an unidentified woman in ancient dress

InChristianity,the palm branch is associated withJesus'Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem,celebrated onPalm Sunday,when theGospel of Johnsays of the citizens, "they took palm branches and went out to meet Him" (12:13 HCSB). Additionally, the palm has meaning inChristian iconography,representing victory, i.e. the victory of the spirit over the flesh (Revelation7:9).

Since a victory signals an end to a conflict or competition, the palm developed into a symbol of peace, a meaning it can have inIslam,[1]where it is often associated with Paradise.

The palm appears on several flags or seals representing countries or other places, with thecoconut palmassociated with thetropics.

Antiquity

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Solidus(335–336 AD) ofConstantine I,the first Christian emperor, with Victory holding a palm and amilitary trophynext to achristogram

InAssyrian religion,the palm is one of the trees identified as theSacred Tree[2]connecting heaven, represented by the crown of the tree, and earth, the base of the trunk. Reliefs from the 9th century BC show wingedgeniiholding palm fronds in the presence of the Sacred Tree.[3]It is associated with the goddessIshtarand is found on theIshtar Gate.In ancientMesopotamia,thedate palmmay have represented fertility in humans. The Mesopotamian goddessInanna,who had a part in the sacred marriage ritual, was believed to make the dates abundant.[4]Palm stems represented long life to theAncient Egyptians,and the godHuhwas often shown holding a palm stem in one or both hands. The palm was carried in Egyptian funeral processions to represent eternal life.[5]TheKingdom of Nri(Igbo) used theomu,a tender palm frond, to sacralize and restrain.[6]Some argue the palm in theParthianpoemDrakht-e Asurigserves as a reference to the Babylonian faith.[7]

The palm was a symbol ofPhoeniciaand appeared on Punic coins. Inancient Greek,the word for palm,phoinix,was thought to be related to theethnonym.

InArchaic Greece,the palm tree was a sacred sign ofApollo,who had been born under a palm on the island ofDelos.[8]The palm thus became an icon of theDelian League.In recognition of the alliance,Cimon of Athenserected a bronze statue of a palm tree atDelphias part of a victory monument commemorating theBattle of the Eurymedon(469/466 BC).[9]In addition to representing the victorious League, the bronze palm(phoinix)was a visual pun on the defeated Phoenician fleet.[10]From 400 BC onward, a palm branch was awarded to the victor in athletic contests, and the practice was brought to Rome around 293 BC.[11]

The palm became so closely associated with victory in ancient Roman culture that the Latin wordpalmacould be used as ametonymfor "victory", and was a sign of any kind of victory.[12]A lawyer who won his case in theforumwould decorate his front door with palm leaves.[13]The palm branch or tree became a regular attribute of thegoddess Victory,and whenJulius Caesarsecured his rise to sole power with avictory at Pharsalus,a palm tree was supposed to have sprung up miraculously at the Temple ofNike,the Greek counterpart of Victory, inTralles,later known as Caesarea, in Asia Minor.[14][15]Thetoga palmatawas atogaornamented with a palm motif; it was worn to celebrate amilitary triumphonly by those who had a previous triumph. The toga itself was the garment of the civilian at peace, and was worn by thetriumphatorto mark his laying down of arms and the cessation of war. The use of the palm in this setting indicates how the original meaning of "victory" shaded into "peace" as the aftermath of victory.[16]

Coins issued underConstantine I,the first Christian emperor, and his successors continue to display the traditional iconography of Victory, but often combined with Christian symbolism such aschristograms.The Roman senatorSymmachus,who tried to preserveRome's religious traditionsunder Christian domination, is pictured on an ivory diptych bearing a palm branch in an allegorical triumph over death.

  • Palms on anAchaemenidseal impression, 5th century BC. The iconography of palm was commonly used by ancient Babylonians.
  • Apollo holding a laurel branch andlibation bowl,next to a palm that represents his birth on Delos (Comacchio Painter,c. 450 BC)
  • Monkey next to a palm, symbolizing the sun god's daily rising, on an Egyptian amuletic bead (ca. 1300 BC)
  • Stylized palms on theIshtar Gate,Babylon(ca. 575 BC)
  • Palm branch inscribed overDurand Stone.The stone dates back to theKassiteperiod (1600 BC — 1155 BC).
  • Poseidonholding a palm branch on thereverseof atetradrachmofAntimachus I Theos,king ofBactria(2nd century BC)
  • Victorious charioteer holding a palm branch on aRoman mosaic
  • Symmachus bearing the palm of triumph over death (4th century)

Judaism

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TheTosher RebbeofMontreal,Canada waving the Four Species duringHallel

InJudaism,thedate palm(Lulav) is one of theFour Speciesused in the daily prayers on the feast ofSukkot.It is bound together with thehadass(myrtle), andaravah(willow). TheMidrash[17]explains that thelulavsymbolises the victory of the Jewish people when they came before God in judgement onRosh Hashanah.Additionally, theMidrash[18]notes that the binding of the Four Species symbolizes the desire to unite the four "types" of Jews in service of God.

During the Roman Empire, the date palm representedJudaeaand its fecundity to both Romans and Jews. Roman sources praise the date as the produce of the province. The date palm was a frequent image for Judaea on Imperial coinage, most notably on theIudaea Captaseries,when the typicalmilitary trophyis replaced by the palm. The palm appears also on at least oneHasmoneancoin and on coinage issued in 38–39 AD byHerod Antipas.Palm ornaments are found also onJewish ossuaries.[19]

In 1965,Judean date palm seeds dated at around 2000 years oldwere recovered during excavations atHerod the Great's palace onMasadain Israel. In 2005, some of the seeds were planted. One grew and has been nicknamed "Methuselah".[20]

Christianity

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Triumphal entry into Jerusalemon a mosaic fromPalermo,ca. 1150
Palms carried on Palm Sunday, 2011, atSanok,Poland
Eberhard I, Duke of Württemberg(1492). TheDukechose apalmas his personal symbol in commemoration of hispilgrimagetoJerusalemin 1468 when he became aKnight of the Holy Sepulchre.

Palm Sunday

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InChristianity,the palm branches distributed duringPalm Sundayservices originate in thetriumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem.EarlyChristiansused the palm branch to symbolize the victory of the faithful over enemies of the soul, as in thePalm Sundayfestival celebrating the triumphal entry ofJesusintoJerusalem.Many churches of mainstream Christian denominations, including the Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Anglican, Moravian and Reformed traditions, distribute palm branches to their congregations during their Palm Sunday services. Christians take these palms, which are often blessed by clergy, to their homes where they hang them alongsideChristian art(especiallycrossesandcrucifixes) or keep them in their Bibles or devotionals.[21]In the period preceding next year's Lent, known asShrovetide,churches often place a basket in theirnarthexto collect these palms, which are then ritually burned onShrove Tuesdayto make the ashes to be used on the following day,Ash Wednesday,which is the first day of Lent.[22][23]

Martyr's palm

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In Western Christian art,martyrswere often shown holding a palm frond as anattribute,representing the victory of spirit over flesh, and it was widely believed that a picture of a palm on a tomb meant that a martyr was buried there.[24]

Origencalls the palm (In Joan, XXXI) the symbol of victory in that war waged by the spirit against the flesh. In this sense it was especially applicable to martyrs, the victors par excellence over the spiritual foes of mankind; hence the frequent occurrence in theActs of the Martyrsof such expressions as "he received the palm of martyrdom." On 10 April 1688 it was decided by theCongregation of Ritesthat the palm when found depicted on catacomb tombs was to be regarded as a proof that a martyr had been interred there. Subsequently, this opinion was acknowledged by Mabillon, Muratori,Benedict XIVand others to be untenable; further investigation showed that the palm was represented not only on tombs of the post-persecution era, but even on tombs of those who did not practice Christianity.

The general significance of the palm on early Christian monuments is slightly modified according to its association with other symbols (e.g., with themonogramof Christ, theIchthus(Fish), or the Good Shepherd). On some later monuments the palm was represented merely as an ornament separating two scenes. Palms also represented heaven, evidenced by ancient art often depicting Jesus in heaven among palms.

In theMiddle Ages,pilgrimsto theHoly Landwould bring back palms for deposit at their home churches.[25]Crusaderswould carry or wear an image of one, seen today in theCatholicOrder of the Holy Sepulchre,which still awards aPalm of Jerusalemdecoration. In addition, theCustody of the Holy Land,courtesy of theCatholic Church,bestows theJerusalem Pilgrim's Crosson Catholic pilgrims to the city.

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See also:Easter palm

Islam

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A Palm Tree(1717) by theOttomanillustrator Muhammad ibn Muhammad Shakir Ruzmah-'i Nathani

The palm is richly significant in Islamic culture, and the palm symbolizes rest and hospitality in many cultures of the Middle East. The presence of palm trees around anoasisshowed that water was the gift ofAllah.[26]In theQuran,the palm appears in theparadisicalimagery of the Garden(Jannah).[27]In one prophetic tradition, theDome of the Rockwill stand on a palm tree issuing from one of therivers of Paradise.[28]Muhammadis said to have built his home out of palm,[29]to have leaned against a palm while speaking,[30]and to have raised the firstmosqueas a roofed place with palm trees.[31]: 566 

The firstmuezzinclimbed palm trees to call the faithful to prayer,[29]from which theminaretdeveloped.[28]In the Quran,Maryis said to have given birth to Jesus under adate palm.[32][33]

Innorthern Sudan,thedoumpalm is the symbol of endurance(doum),particularly of the Muslim saint who gave his name toWad Hamid.[34]: 825 The palm also appears on several coins from Islamic states, for example the 1Tunisian dinarissue honoring theFood and Agriculture Organizationfrom 1970,[35]and severalIraqi coinsof the 1970s like the 5 fils.[36]

Modern usage

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The Latin motto ofLord NelsonisPalmam qui meruit ferat,"Let him bear the palm who has deserved it".[37]The motto has been adopted by numerous other organizations, including theUniversity of Southern California.[38]

Today, the palm, especially thecoconut palm,is a symbol of a tropical island paradise.[39]Palms appear on the flags and seals of several places where they are native, including those ofMalta,Haiti,Paraguay,Guam,Florida,Poland,AustraliaandSouth Carolina.

The palm branch symbol is included inMUFI:⸙ (2E19, 'Palm Branch' inUnicode).

InArabic,the termFog al-Nakhal(فوق النخل), which literally translates to "above the palm trees",is anidiomused to indicate euphoria, satisfaction or strong happiness.[40]

Flags and seals

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Allegories of Victory and Peace

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Bust ofGeorge Washingtonflanked by allegories of Peace holding a palm branch and Fame blowing a trumpet, marble relief (1959–60) by G. Gianetti, based on the 1827 sandstone original byAntonio Capellano,at theU.S. Capitol

Bibliography

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  • Chase, Holly (1990). Harlan Walker (ed.).The Date Palm: Pillar of Society.Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery 1989: Staples.Prospect Books. pp.61–69.ISBN9780907325444.
  • Rustomji, Nerina (2009).The Garden and the Fire: Heaven and Hell in Islamic Culture.Columbia University Press.ISBN978-0231140850.
  • Vioque, Guillermo Galán (2002).Martial, Book VII: A Commentary.Translated by J.J. Zoltowski. Brill.ISBN978-90-04-12338-0.Livy10.47.3

References

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  1. ^Nigosian, Solomon A. (2004).Islam: Its History, Teaching, and Practices.Indiana University Press. p. 124.ISBN978-0253216274.
  2. ^Giovino, Mariana (2007).The Assyrian Sacred Tree: A History of Interpretations.Academic Press Fribourg Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht Göttingen.ISBN978-3525530283.'passim'
  3. ^Chase 1990,p. 65.
  4. ^"Sex Life of the Date".University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
  5. ^Lanzi, Fernando; Lanzi, Gioia (2004).Saints and Their Symbols: Recognizing Saints in Art and in Popular Images.Translated by Matthew J. O'Connell. Liturgical Press. p. 25.ISBN978-0814629703.
  6. ^Nyang, Sulayman; Olupona, Jacob K. (1995).Religious Plurality in Africa: Essays in Honour of John S. Mbiti.Mouton de Gruyter. p. 130.ASINB07G4R2J49.
  7. ^Ahmad Tafazzoli."Draxt ī āsūrīg"[The Babylonian tree].Encyclopædia Iranica.Retrieved29 April2011.
  8. ^Apollo'sbirth is described in theHomeric Hymnto Delian Apollo.
  9. ^Harrison, Evelyn B. (1996). "Pheidias".Personal Styles in Greek Sculpture.Cambridge University Press. p. 27.
  10. ^Kuiper, Kathleen (2011).Ancient Greece: From the Archaic Period to the Death of Alexander the Great.Britannica Educational Publishing. p. 89.
  11. ^Vioque 2002,p. 411.
  12. ^Vioque 2002,p. 61, 206, 411.
  13. ^Vioque 2002,p. 205-206.
  14. ^Rosenberger, Veit (2007). "Republican Nobiles: Controlling the Res Publica". In Jörg Rüpke (ed.).A Companion to Roman Religion.Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World. Wiley Blackwell. pp.292–303.ISBN978-1405129435.p. 302:Caesar,Bellum Civile3.105
  15. ^Clark, Anna (2007).Divine Qualities: Cult and Community in Republican Rome.Oxford University Press. p.162.ISBN978-0199226825.
  16. ^Vioque 2002,p. 61.
  17. ^Vayikra Rabbah30:2
  18. ^Vayikra Rabbah30:12
  19. ^Fine, Steven (2005). "Between Rome and Jerusalem: The Date Palm as 'Jewish Symbol'".Art And Judaism in the Greco-Roman World: Toward A New Jewish Archaeology.Cambridge University Press. pp.140–145.ISBN978-0521145671.
  20. ^Rose, Deborah Bird (2011). "On the Spot: In the Red Center". In SueEllen Campbell (ed.).The Face of the Earth: Natural Landscapes, Science, and Culture.University of California Press. p. 209.ISBN978-0520269262.
  21. ^Kirk, Lisa (25 March 2018)."Ideas for Displaying Palm Sunday Palms Around Your Home".Blessed Is She.Retrieved4 April2020.
  22. ^"This Sunday at Grace: February 4, 2018".Grace Episcopal Church. 3 February 2018.Retrieved4 April2020.
  23. ^"Shrove Tuesday".The Times-Reporter.18 February 2020.Retrieved4 April2020.
  24. ^Hassett, M. (1911)."Palm in Christian Symbolism".The Catholic Encyclopedia.
  25. ^Eva March Tappan."When Knights Were Bold".gatewaytotheclassics.com. Archived fromthe originalon 16 October 2004.
  26. ^Chase 1990,p. 64.
  27. ^Rustomji 2009,p. 43, 67.
  28. ^abRustomji 2009,p. 132.
  29. ^abGauding, Madonna (2009).The Signs and Symbols Bible: The Definitive Guide to Mysterious Markings.Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. p. 289.ISBN9781402770043.
  30. ^Ipgrave, Michael (2005).Bearing the Word: Prophecy in Biblical and Qur'ānic Perspective.Church House Publishing. p. 103.ISBN978-0898694949.
  31. ^Bahnassi, Afif (2003)."Art and Aesthetic Creativity".In Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu (ed.).Culture and Learning in Islam.UNESCO Publishing. pp.549–568.ISBN9789231039096.
  32. ^Quran19:16-34
  33. ^Glassé, Cyril, ed. (2001). "Sûrah XIX: 23, 25, 26, as cited by Chase," The Date Palm "; entry on" Mary ".The New Encyclopedia of Islam(2 ed.). Stacey International. p. 297.ISBN978-0742562967.
  34. ^Bürgel, Johann Christoph (2010). "Islam Reflected in the Contemporary Literature of Muslim Peoples". In Werner Ende; Udo Steinbach (eds.).Islam in the World Today: A Handbook of Politics, Religion, Culture, and Society.Cornell University Press. pp.800–829.ISBN9780801464898.
  35. ^"1 Dinar FAO".Numista.Retrieved3 March2020.
  36. ^"5 Fils".Numista.Retrieved3 March2020.
  37. ^"Viscount Lord Nelson's Arms".Retrieved26 March2020.
  38. ^"Motto".USC.Retrieved23 February2020.
  39. ^"Introduction".Virtual Palm Encyclopedia.
  40. ^"Arabic Song Lyrics and Translations".22 March 2013.Retrieved4 November2010.
  41. ^Domanig, Karl (1896).Porträtmedaillen des Erzhauses Österreich von Kaiser Friedrich III. bis Kaiser Franz II.Vienna. p. xix.Created byAlessandro Abondio.The motto in Latin is from Catullus 62.16, and readsAmat Victoria Curam,"Victory loves Prudence"{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  42. ^Atkins, Stuart (2002). "Renaissance and Baroque Elements in Goethe'sFaust:Illustrative Analogues ".Goethe Yearbook.11.Goethe Society of North America:1–26.doi:10.1353/gyr.2011.0014.S2CID170265105.p. 7:on the translation ofcuraas "prudence" rather than the more usual "care, concern"
  43. ^Christiansen, Keith; Mann, Judith W. (2002).Orazio and Artemisia Gentileschi.Yale University Press. p. 211.
  44. ^"Allegory of Victory".Louvre.1635.
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