Millions of Years of History: the Lily is a Classic
Lilies, like so many other flowers we have featured on our blog are steeped in history and mythology.
The Lily: Jealousy, Chastity and Purity:
Fossils have been traced from millions of years ago back to prehistoric times. They are also found in Greek and Roman Mythology; according to the Romans, Venus – the goddess of love and beauty was jealous of the lily’s beauty. The Minoan civilization considered the lily sacred.
The lily is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments and became the symbol of purity and chastity in Christianity.
Known for Their Extraordinary Scent:
The lily has been depicted in art, music, books and tapestries from the 1600’s as an expression of feelings, rituals and beautifying the area. In the Victorian-era the flower was an important accent to one’s appearance and the scent was used to perfume a handkerchief.
Magical Qualities?
There are over 270,000 species of lilies grown in Asia, Europe and North America. Many British explorers searched Asia for new species both for medicinal purposes but also for their beauty. They are loved for the gorgeous large flowers and strong scent. But they were also thought to have magical qualities, used for treating fevers, wounds and other illnesses back in the Elizabethan-era in England.
A Most Perfumed Bouquet
If you want to give Mom a beautiful bouquet with an incredible scent order her flowers today and remember that they date back millions of years, even before Venus! You can view many bouquets of lilies here.
Enjoy!
