The Olive Branch

 

The use of the olive branch as a symbol of peace in Western civilisation dates back to at least 5th century BC Greece. The ancient Greeks believed that olive branches represented plenty and drove away evil spirits and an olive branch was one of the attributes of Eirene, the Greek goddess of peace. Known as Pax to the Romans, she appeared on Roman Imperial coins with an olive branch and the Roman poet Virgil associated the ‘plump olive’ with Pax and used the olive branch as a symbol of peace in Aeneid. Another goddess in Greek mythology, Athene, gave the olive tree to the people of Athens, who showed their gratitude by naming the city after her. 

In the early cultivation of the olive it took years for the trees to bear fruit for the harvest, so it was believed that anyone who planted olive groves must be expecting a long period of peace. Furthermore, wars between states were suspended during the Olympic Games and the winners were given crowns of olive branches to wear. 

Later representations also associate the olive branch with peace. 17th century poets used the olive branch as a symbol of peace and a Charles I gold coin of 1644 shows the monarch with a sword and olive branch. English coins of the 18th century depict Britannia with a spear and olive branch and in July 1775 the American Continental Congress adopted the ‘Olive Branch Petition’ in the hope of avoiding a full-blown war with Great Britain. 

James Thornhill’s allegorical painting Peace and Liberty Triumphing Over Tyranny depicts King William III and Queen Mary - who had enacted the English Bill of Rights - enthroned in heaven with the Virtues behind them. Peace, with with her doves and lambs, hands an olive branch to William, who in turn hands the cap of liberty to Europe, where absolute monarchy prevails.