Triumphal crown

The triumphal crown (also, laurel wreath, laurel or laurel ) is a crown formed by bay leaves, usually given as a reward to poets (poet laureate), athletes and warriors in ancient Greece and ancient Rome. It consisted of a ring of branches, initially made of laurel (hence Latin: lavrĕa), but later made of gold.

As for the Latin name of this crown (lavrĕa or laura), it has generated a family of words in various languages; for example, the Spanish adjective: laureada/o and the proper name Laura. It is still the subject of conjecture whether or not, in the etymology of this denomination, there is a possible philological relationship with the name of the Cretominoan double ax (labrix). The origins are not entirely specified, but its relationship with a similar vegetable crown seems indisputable: the one of olive trees that was awarded to the Greek winners of the Olympic Games; many believe that Julius Caesar used the gold crown imitating two laurel branches to hide his baldness. In any case, during the triumphal tributes to the victorious Roman generals, they were crowned with laurels, that is, they were laureates.

This crown has remained a symbol of victory to this day, and its heraldic use stands out, which always symbolizes victory, although in the shields of several Spanish-American countries, the laurel symbol acquires an additional meaning of connotations, since It not only symbolizes the war triumph but also the victory of freedom. As for the adjective laureado/a, contemporaneously means the person who has managed to meet and exceed the demands of education and culture, especially upon concluding middle (or "secondary") studies and especially university students. Also during the 2004 Athens Olympics, award ceremonies included the imposition of laurel wreaths.

The laurel in mythology

Daphne and Eros in the art of shooting arrows. Eros, annoyed by Apollo's arrogance, thought of taking revenge on him and for this he threw a golden arrow at him, which caused immediate love for whoever he hurts. He also wounded the nymph Daphne with a lead arrow, which caused love rejection. So, when Apollo saw Daphne one day, he was stricken with love and went after her. But Daphne, who suffered the opposite effect, fled from him. And the nymph ran and ran until she, exhausted, asked for help from her father, the river-god Ladon, who determined to turn Daphne into a laurel. When Apollo caught up with Daphne, she began her transformation: her body was covered in hard bark, her feet were roots that dug into the ground, and her hair was filled with leaves. Apollo hugged the tree and began to cry. And he said: "Since you cannot be my wife, you will be my favorite tree and your leaves, always green, will crown the heads of the people as a sign of victory."

The transformation is recounted by Ovid in the poem "The Metamorphoses". This myth illustrates the origin of one of the typical symbols of the god, the laurel wreath.

Academic use

In some countries the laurel wreath is used as a symbol of the master's degree. The crown is given to young teachers at the university graduation ceremony. The word "laureate" of "poet laureate" refers to being represented by the laurel wreath. The Italian medieval poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri, a graduate of the Sicilian School, is often depicted in painting and sculpture wearing a laurel wreath.

At the University of Connecticut in the United States, members of the junior class wear a laurel chain, which seniors present to them during an Initiation. It represents nature and the continuation of life from one year to the next. Immediately after initiation, the juniors write their class year on their laurels, signifying that they have officially become seniors and that the cycle will repeat the following spring.

At Reed College in Portland, United States, members of the graduating class receive laurel wreaths at the presentation of their senior theses in May. The tradition stems from the use of laurel wreaths at athletics competitions, last year they have 'crossed the finish line', so to speak.

At St. Mark's School in Southborough, Massachusetts, United States, students who successfully complete three years of one classical language and two of the others earn the distinction of the classics diploma and the honor of wearing a crown of laurel during the award day.

Those who received an Honorary Doctorate from Umeå University in Sweden, with the exception of honorary doctors of medicine, will receive a laurel wreath during the honorary degree awarding ceremony.

Other uses

The laurel wreath is a common motif in architecture, furniture and textiles. The crown is usually done in bas-relief in stone, and is a decorative motif in Robert Adam, Federal Style, Regency Style, Directory, and Fine Arts Architecture. In decorative art, especially in the Imperial style, the laurel wreath appears in textiles, in marquetry, applied to furniture. The car company Alfa Romeo has included the laurel wreath in its logo, since it won the inaugural World Championship for Automobiles in 1925 with the Alfa Romeo P2, and it is also used in the UN insignia. In the textile sector, it has been used as the logo of the British brand Fred Perry, founded by the tennis player of the same name in the 1950s, in order to link with the concept of victory, being chosen by personalities such as John F. Kennedy, popular music bands like The Who, in addition to leading to a remarkable cultural appropriation over the following decades by the symbology associated with victory, power or imperialism, by different urban tribes of opposing ideology.

Also of note is the use as a "of service" wreath, found on all commissioners patches in the Boy Scouts of the United States. This is a symbol of the services rendered to the units and the ongoing collaboration between volunteers and scout professionals. The Service Crown represents commitment to the program and service to units.