Peace symbols

The concept of peace is a very important one in cultures all over the world. Think about how we greet people. In some languages, the phrases for greetings contain the word for peace.

The concept of peace is a very important one in cultures all over the world. Think about how we greet people. In some languages, the phrases for greetings contain the word for peace. In some cultures we greet people by shaking hands or with another gesture to show that we are not carrying weapons - that we come in peace. And there are certain symbols which people in very different cutures recognise as representing peace. Let's look at the origins of a few of them.

The dove
The dove has been a symbol of peace and innocence for thousands of years in many different cultures. In ancient Greek mythology it was a symbol of love and the renewal of life. In ancient Japan a dove carrying a sword symbolised the end of war.

There was a tradition in Europe that if a dove flew around a house where someone was dying then their soul would be at peace. And there are legends which say that the devil can turn himself into any bird except for a dove. In Christian art, the dove was used to symbolise the Holy Ghost and was often painted above Christ's head.

But it was Pablo Picasso who made the dove a modern symbol of peace when he used it on a poster for the World Peace Congress in 1949.

The rainbow
The rainbow is another ancient and universal symbol, often representing the connection between human beings and their gods. In Greek mythology it was associated with Iris, the goddess who brought messages from the gods on Mount Olympus. In Scandinavian mythology the rainbow was a bridge between the gods and the earth. In the Bible a rainbow showed Noah that the Biblical flood was finally over, and that God had forgiven his people. In the Chinese tradition, the rainbow is a common symbol for marriage because the colours represent the union of yin and yang. Nowadays the rainbow is used by many popular movements for peace and the environment, representing the possibility of a better world in the future and promising sunshine after the rain.

Mistletoe
This plant was sacred in many cultures, generally representing peace and love. Most people know of the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe at Christmas time, which probably comes from Scandinavian mythology. The goddess Freya's son was killed by an arrow made of mistletoe, so, in honour of him, she declared that it would always be a symbol of peace. It was often hung in doorways as a sign of friendship.

The ancient Druids believed that hanging mistletoe in your doorway protected you from evil spirits. Tribes would stop fighting for a period of time if they found a tree with mistletoe. But you will never see mistletoe in a Christian church - it is banned because of its associations with pagan religion and superstition.

The olive branch
The olive tree has always been a valuable source of food and oil. In Greek mythology, the goddess Athene gave the olive tree to the people of Athens, who showed their gratitude by naming the city after her. But no one knows for sure when or why it began to symbolise peace. There is probably a connection with ancient Greece. Wars between states were suspended during the Olympic Games, and the winners were given crowns of olive branches. The symbolism may come from the fact that the olive tree takes a long time to produce fruit, so olives could only be cultivated successfully in long periods of peace. Whatever the history, the olive branch is a part of many modern flags symbolising peace and unity. One well-known example is the United Nations symbol.

The ankh
The ankh is an ancient symbol which was adopted by the hippie movement in the 1960s to represent peace and love. It was found in many Asian cultures, but is generally associated with ancient Egypt. It represented life and immortality. Egyptians were buried with an ankh, so that they could continue to live in the 'afterworld'. The symbol was also found along the sides of the Nile, which gave life to the people. They believed that the ankh could control the flow of the river and make sure that there was always enough water.

Vocabulary

5 words/phrases from the text:

sword: a weapon with a long sharp blade traditionally used by knights
flood: an excess of water over land that is usually dry
arrow: a long, thin, pointed weapon with feathers to control its flight
crown: ornamental circular headwear worn by a monarch to denote authority
flag: a piece of material with a specific design used as a symbol for a nation, state or organisation

Exercise one.

Vocabulary gap fill. Now use the 5 words/phrases to fill the gaps in the sentences below:

The princess wore heavy robes and a golden ........ decorated with diamonds and rubies.
The ............... of Wales is distinctive with its red dragon on a green and white background.
The villagers tried to rescue their belongings but the ......... had caused a great deal of damage.
Robin Hood took out his bow, positioned an .......... and waited for the Sheriff to appear.
The knight held his ........ up high and promised to defend his King.

Exercise two.

Comprehension. Answer the 5 questions using information from the article.

Who was responsible for the dove becoming a peace symbol of the twentieth century?
Which union does the rainbow represent in China?
What do Christians associate with mistletoe?
Which goddess presented her people with the olive tree?
How was the ankh believed to provide the Egyptians with water?

Grammar.

Verbs followed by ‘ing' or by ‘to + infinitive' (2)

When one verb is followed by another, the second verb can either be an infinitive or an -ing form. Some verbs can be followed by either an infinitive, or an -ing form but with a change in meaning. These are some of the most common ones.

like

I like watching old films on TV.
With an ‘ing' form, ‘like' means ‘enjoy'

I like to wash up as soon as I finish eating.
I might not enjoy washing up but I think it's the right thing to do.

Remember that ‘would like' can only be followed by an infinitive.
I'd like to go to Japan next year, if possible.

try

I'm trying to learn Japanese but it's very difficult.
Try + to + infinitive means that something is difficult and you make an attempt to do it.

Have you tried using butter instead of oil?
Try + ‘ing' means make an experiment. It's not difficult - it might work, it might not.

stop

I've stopped buying a newspaper every day to try to save money.
Stop + to + infinitive tells us what has stopped. in this example, buying a newspaper.

The bus stopped to pick up the children.
Stop + ‘ing' tells us why something stopped. In this example the reason that the bus stopped was to pick up the children.

remember /forget

Don't forget to post that letter for me.
Did you remember to post that letter for me?
Remember/forget + to + infinitive means that you remember something you have to do - a duty or a chore.

I'll always remember meeting you for the first time.
I'll never forget meeting you for the first time.
Remember/forget + ‘ing' form means remember something you did in the past - an event or an activity.