The History of the World in Flowers: The human race is a creative bunch, and evidence of this adorns the walls of ancient structures and tombs in Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, Japan and other ancient cultures. Whether as a symbol of homage to their gods, or a token of love for a special person, ancient people used flowers in much the same way as Florists do today, to create beautiful floral designs.
Different cultures used different types of flowers and foliage, depending on what was available to them. Having more familiarity to us here in Australia, the our Greek and Roman counterparts depict many pictures of Caesar wearing a laurel wreath. This is how many flowers were arranged and displayed. Rather than use containers, they weaved the flowers and foliage into garlands and wreaths for both their body and furniture. They also tossed the petals randomly under the feet of approaching dignitaries, or onto beds or lounges.
Our Egyptian cousins put cut flowers into vases and urns for the purpose of religious or ceremony. This created an outlet for their beautiful expressive talent for making large and elaborate displays. Flower arrangements and garlands were an important part of their culture, chosen for their symbolic significance. Different blooms would be chosen for different occasions. The ancient Egyptians placed garlands and flowers at the entrance to tombs of loved ones, similar to the way in which we decorate cemetery graves.
Across the world, as early as 220 AD, the Han Dynasty in China was using flowers in religious ceremonies, and in herbal medicine. The ancient Chinese loved and appreciated flowers so much that they placed fresh cut flowers in their temples, and created art works illustrating flowers on scrolls, silk fabric, vases, plates and items of embroidery. They also used floral designs in jewellery-making, creating works from jade, wood, bronze and ivory.
Other cultural and religious groups such as Taoist, Buddhist, Confucian and Byzantine also revered flowers and used them for religious and creative expression. The Byzantines particularly liked cone-shaped arrangements which were also decorated with fruit, cypress, pine and ribbons.
Europe lagged behind in the discovery of floral art, but once the Dark Ages passed, people looked for ways to express their delight at this more positive environment. Churches and monasteries led the way with large, decorative arrangements which included both flowers and food, and also new and exotic varieties brought back from the Holy Land after the Crusades.
It was the Italian Renaissance that made floral art more distinct. Trying different ideas to see which were the most beautiful meant that many new styles of arranging were made possible, and many new options of containers and methods of display support arose. Since those times, flower arrangements have become accepted and fashionable for all kinds of use. They are part of the décor of all kinds of interior designs, used in workplaces, churches, on ceremonial occasions and others too numerous to list.
Equally loved and appreciated by both male and female, the beauty of floral arrangements gives a lift to any jaded spirit. From the very beginnings of civilisation to the present day, there is something about the gentle beauty of a flower that expresses love and care.
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Evidence from ancient cultures shows that the beauty of floral arrangements such as those created by a Florist Brisbane like Flowers on Oxford have been enjoyed by human beings since the beginning of civilization. Flowers Brisbane in many different arrangements are available.
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