See Also

Olive branch

Olive branch is a colloquial term referring to a concession or a gesture of peace, as well as a peace symbol Peace symbol

A peace symbol is a representation or object that has come to symbolize peace [i]. ... 

. Deriving from its origins in Ancient Greece Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece is the period in Greek history [i] which lasted for around one thousand years and ended w ... 

 as a symbol of peace and prosperity, the olive branch is used throughout many western culture Western culture

Western culture or Western civilization is a term used to refer to the culture [i]s of the people ... 

s to convey the idea of peace Peace

Peace is commonly understood to mean the absence of hostilities. Other definitions include freedom f... 

. In Ancient Rome Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

, the defeated carried olive branches in order to seek peace Peace

Peace is commonly understood to mean the absence of hostilities. Other definitions include freedom f... 

. Olive branches are used throughout modern and classical works to represent peace. The eagle Eagle

Eagles are large birds of prey [i] which inhabit mainly the Old World [i], with only two sp ... 

, on the Great Seal of the United States Great Seal of the United States

The Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States [i] ... 

, grasps with its right talon an olive branch containing 13 olives and leaves, while the flags of many nations feature olive branches in their design.

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Encyclopedia


Olive branch is a colloquial term referring to a concession or a gesture of peace, as well as a peace symbol Peace symbol

A peace symbol is a representation or object that has come to symbolize peace [i]. ... 

. Deriving from its origins in Ancient Greece Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece is the period in Greek history [i] which lasted for around one thousand years and ended w ... 

 as a symbol of peace and prosperity, the olive branch is used throughout many western culture Western culture

Western culture or Western civilization is a term used to refer to the culture [i]s of the people... 

s to convey the idea of peace Peace

Peace is commonly understood to mean the absence of hostilities. Other definitions include freedom f... 

. In Ancient Rome Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

, the defeated carried olive branches in order to seek peace Peace

Peace is commonly understood to mean the absence of hostilities. Other definitions include freedom f... 

.

Olive branches are used throughout modern and classical works to represent peace. The eagle Eagle

Eagles are large birds of prey [i] which inhabit mainly the Old World [i], with only two sp ... 

, on the Great Seal of the United States Great Seal of the United States

The Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States [i] ... 

, grasps with its right talon an olive branch containing 13 olives and leaves, while the flags of many nations feature olive branches in their design. Also used in many police patches and badges across the world to signify peace.

Why the olive branch came to symbolize peace remains something of a mystery. Speculative explanations tend to center around the idea that olive tree Olive Tree

For information about the plant for which the political party is named, see Olive [i].
... 

s take a very long time to bear fruit. Thus the cultivation of olives is something that is generally impossible in time of war War

War is a conflict involving the organized use of weapon [i]s and physical force by state [i]s or other l ... 

. Some theologists speculate that it may represent the branch brought back to Noah's Ark Noah's Ark

According to the Bible [i], Noah's Ark was a massive vessel [i] built at God [i]'s command to save ... 

 by the dove during the Flood. See also the explanation in the 'Peace symbol Peace symbol

A peace symbol is a representation or object that has come to symbolize peace [i]. ... 

' article.

Several towns have been named Olive Branch as a symbol of peaceful living, such as Olive Branch, Mississippi.

Greek Mythology


Zeus Zeus

In Greek mythology [i], Zeus is the highest ranking god [i] among the Olympian gods [i] ... 

 bestowed the newly created city of Athens Athens

Athens is the capital [i] and the largest city of Greece [i]. ... 

 to the god providing the most useful gift to humanity. Poseidon Poseidon

In Greek mythology [i], Poseidon was the god of the sea [i], as well as horse [i]s and, as "Earth-Shake ... 

 offered the horse Horse

The horse is a large odd-toed ungulate [i] mammal [i], one of ten modern species of the genus Equus [i]... 

, thought of as primarily for war. Athena Athena

In Greek mythology [i], Athena was the goddess of wisdom [i], weaving [i], crafts [i], and war [i]. ... 

 offered the olive tree.