From the fragrant gardens of an ancient Greek goddess to the bridal bouquet of a modern royal, the myrtle tree has journeyed through human history as a powerful and cherished symbol. For thousands of years, this humble evergreen has been woven into myths, sacred texts, and cultural traditions. The myrtle tree has many layered meanings, including youth, innocence, fertility, and immortality, but above all, it symbolizes love. Its story is a fascinating exploration of how different cultures have looked to the natural world to understand their most profound values, from the intimate bonds of marriage to the universal hope for peace and divine blessing.
The myrtle’s symbolic power comes from its unique ability to represent both personal and communal ideals. In one context, it is the ultimate expression of romantic love and beauty; in another, it is a sign of national restoration and a harmonious relationship with God. This report will explore the rich history of the myrtle tree, tracing its significance from the temples of Aphrodite and the prophecies of the Bible to the enduring wedding traditions of today. By understanding its journey, we uncover not just the meaning of a plant, but a reflection of humanity’s enduring search for love, peace, and promise.
| Culture / Tradition | Primary Meanings | Key Associations & Contexts |
| Ancient Greece & Rome | Love, Beauty, Femininity, Purity, Peace, Victory, Fertility | Goddesses Aphrodite & Venus; Sacred Temple Gardens; Wedding Wreaths; Myths of Transformation |
| Judaism (Biblical) | Divine Blessing, Peace, Restoration, Hope, Righteousness, Paradise | Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot); Prophecies of Isaiah; Queen Esther (Hadassah); Scent of Eden |
| Victorian England | Enduring Love, Fidelity, Innocence, Marriage, Youth | The Language of Flowers (Floriography); Queen Victoria’s Wedding Customs |
| Modern Royal Weddings | Tradition, Lineage, Marital Love, Lasting Union | Sprigs from Queen Victoria’s original plant in bridal bouquets, connecting generations |
The Flower of the Gods: Myrtle in the Myths of Greece and Rome
The story of the myrtle’s symbolism begins in the ancient Mediterranean, where its fragrant blossoms and evergreen leaves captured the imagination of the Greeks and Romans. Long before it was written into sacred texts or carried in royal weddings, it was known as the flower of the gods, inextricably linked to love, beauty, and divine feminine power.
The Sacred Plant of Aphrodite and Venus
In Greek mythology, the myrtle tree was sacred to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty, and pleasure. Her temples and gardens were filled with myrtle trees, and she was often shown wearing a crown or wreath made from its branches. The connection was so deep that the Greek word for myrtle, myrtos, is the root of the plant’s name and means “herb of love”. When the Romans adopted the Greek gods, they continued this tradition, dedicating the myrtle to their own goddess of love, Venus. This association established the myrtle as the foremost botanical symbol of love and beauty in the classical world.
Myths of Origin and Transformation
Several powerful myths explain how the myrtle became so closely tied to the goddess of love. These stories reveal that the plant symbolized more than just simple beauty; it also represented purity, protection, and the sacred power of femininity.
According to a tale from the Roman poet Ovid, when Venus (Aphrodite) was born and rose from the sea foam, she came ashore on the island of Cytheraea. Finding herself naked and vulnerable to the stares of satyrs, she hid behind a myrtle tree, covering herself with its flowering branches to protect her innocence. In this foundational myth, the myrtle becomes a symbol of modesty and a sanctuary for the divine feminine.
Another famous story, the Judgment of Paris, further cemented the myrtle’s connection to supreme beauty. When the mortal prince Paris was asked to choose the most beautiful among the goddesses, he selected Venus. After awarding her the golden apple, he crowned her with a wreath of myrtle, signifying that she was the ultimate ideal of beauty.
Beyond these tales, there are several myths in which women are transformed into myrtle trees. In one version, Venus transforms one of her priestesses, named Myrrh, into a myrtle tree to protect her from an aggressive suitor. In other stories, nymphs or priestesses who have broken their vows are turned into myrtle trees, either as a form of protection or as a gentle punishment. These recurring stories of transformation highlight a deeper theme. The myrtle is not just a passive object of beauty; it is an active symbol of sanctuary and refuge. This idea is powerfully illustrated by an ancient account from the writer Pausanias, who described a revered statue of Aphrodite that had been carved directly into the wood of a living myrtle tree. The belief was that the goddess herself animated the tree, making it flourish for centuries. The myrtle was thus seen as a physical embodiment of the goddess’s life-giving and protective power.
A Symbol of Peace and Victory
While the myrtle was primarily the plant of love, its symbolism in the ancient world was not limited to romance. The Greeks believed that a myrtle garland carried the same meaning as an olive branch, signifying peace, victory, and prosperity. This shows that the myrtle represented a state of harmony and well-being that could apply to a whole community, not just a romantic couple. The plant was also sacred to Demeter, the goddess of the harvest and agriculture, making it a good omen for farmers and a symbol of growth and nourishment. In this way, the myrtle bridged the personal world of love with the public world of peace and prosperity.
A Sign of Peace and Promise: Myrtle in Sacred Texts
As the cultural center of the ancient world shifted, the myrtle tree found a new and profound role within the monotheistic traditions of the Middle East. In the Bible, the myrtle, known in Hebrew as hadas, became a powerful symbol not of a pagan goddess, but of the one God’s promise of peace, restoration, and blessing for His people.
Replacing the Thorn and Brier: A Symbol of Restoration
The myrtle’s most significant role in the Bible is found in the prophetic Book of Isaiah. The prophet foretells a time of divine restoration when God will transform the world. In these visions, the myrtle serves as a tangible sign of this transformation. Isaiah declares that “instead of the brier, a myrtle will spring up”. This imagery is deeply symbolic: the thorny brier represents the curse, desolation, and hardship of exile, while the beautiful, fragrant myrtle represents blessing, joy, and peace.
In another passage, God promises to “plant in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive”. Here, the myrtle is part of a divine act of creation, turning a barren wasteland into a lush, flourishing garden. This is more than just a symbol of a pleasant state of being; it represents the active fulfillment of God’s promise. The myrtle is not merely a sign of peace, but a physical manifestation of God’s power to intervene in the world and turn a negative reality into a positive one. It is the evidence of a promise being kept.
The Four Species of Sukkot
The myrtle also holds a central place in Jewish ritual, particularly during the festival of Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. This holiday commemorates the 40 years the Israelites spent wandering in the desert and celebrates God’s provision for them. During Sukkot, worshippers use four specific plants, known as the Four Species (arba minim), in their prayers: a palm branch, a citron fruit, willow branches, and myrtle branches.
In Jewish tradition, each of the four plants represents a different type of person within the community. The myrtle, which has a beautiful fragrance but no taste, is said to represent Jews who perform good deeds but may not have extensive knowledge of the Torah, the holy text. Its inclusion in this important ritual signifies that every member of the community is valued and essential to the whole.
Queen Esther and the Scent of Eden
The myrtle’s Hebrew name, hadas, provides another layer of rich symbolism. Hadassah was the Hebrew name of the biblical hero Queen Esther, who saved the Jewish people from destruction in ancient Persia. This connection is seen as deeply meaningful; just as the myrtle symbolizes the replacement of desolation with peace, Esther was the agent of her people’s deliverance, bringing about a state of balance and restoration.
Furthermore, in Jewish mysticism, the myrtle’s sweet fragrance is associated with the scent of the Garden of Eden. This links the plant to a state of paradise—a time of original purity, harmony, and closeness to God. The myrtle thus becomes a symbol of humanity’s deepest spiritual hopes for renewal and a return to a perfect state of being.
From Ancient Vows to Royal Bouquets: A Wedding Tradition Through the Ages
The myrtle’s ancient association with love and fidelity has endured for centuries, evolving into one of the most charming and long-lasting wedding traditions in the Western world. This custom was solidified and popularized in the 19th century by one of history’s most influential figures, Queen Victoria of Great Britain, whose legacy continues to this day in the bouquets of royal brides.
The Victorian Language of Flowers
During the Victorian era, flowers were used to send secret messages in a popular practice known as floriography, or the “language of flowers.” Every bloom had a specific meaning, and a carefully arranged bouquet could convey complex emotions without a single word being spoken. Queen Victoria was an expert in this symbolic language. In the floral dictionary of the time, myrtle stood for a host of meanings perfect for a bride: love, fidelity, innocence, youth, and fertility. It was the ultimate symbol of a happy and lasting marriage.
Queen Victoria’s Enduring Legacy
The tradition of including myrtle in British royal wedding bouquets was firmly established in 1858, when Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Princess Victoria, carried it at her wedding. The Queen had adopted this custom from Germany, but she made it uniquely her own. After the wedding, a sprig from the princess’s bouquet was planted at Osborne House, the Queen’s family home on the Isle of Wight.
This single act began an extraordinary tradition. Cuttings from that original plant, or its descendants, have been included in the wedding bouquets of nearly every major royal bride since, including Queen Elizabeth II, Diana, Princess of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. This practice transforms the myrtle from a simple symbol into a living piece of history. The use of a sprig from the same ancestral plant creates a tangible, horticultural link between generations of royal marriages. When a royal bride carries myrtle, the gesture is not just a wish for love and fidelity; it is a statement that her marriage is now part of an unbroken chain of unions that has sustained the monarchy for over 160 years. The myrtle becomes a physical embodiment of tradition, stability, and dynastic continuity.
Nature’s Narrative: How the Myrtle’s Form Defines Its Meaning
The rich and varied symbolism of the myrtle tree is not accidental. Ancient cultures did not assign meanings to plants at random; they did so based on careful observation of a plant’s physical characteristics. The myrtle’s evergreen leaves, fragrant flowers, and hardy nature provided a natural vocabulary that people used to express some of their most important values. Each of its primary traits was translated into a corresponding human ideal, making the tree a complete and self-contained symbolic system.
The Evergreen Promise: Immortality and Endurance
The myrtle is an evergreen, meaning it keeps its glossy, dark green leaves throughout the year, even in winter. This constant vitality in the face of changing seasons is the direct source of its association with immortality, eternal life, and enduring love. The sight of its unfading green was a powerful metaphor for a love that does not wither with time and a life force that persists through hardship.
The Fragrant Presence: Purity and Paradise
One of the myrtle’s most defining features is its powerful and pleasant fragrance, which comes from both its star-like white flowers and its aromatic leaves. This sweet scent was strongly linked to concepts of purity and divine presence. The fragrance was thought to be cleansing and uplifting, which is why it was used in purification rituals in both pagan and Hebrew cultures. This aromatic quality also fueled the belief in Jewish mysticism that myrtle carried the “scent of Eden,” connecting it to a perfect, paradise-like state. The pure white color of the blossoms further reinforced its symbolism of innocence, hope, and new beginnings.
The Resilient Spirit: Hope and Renewal
The myrtle tree is remarkably resilient. It is known for its ability to thrive in dry, difficult soil and arid conditions where other plants might fail. Some have observed that its beauty is “born out of difficulty” and that even if the tree is cut down to a stump, its strong root system allows it to sprout again. This tenacity made it a perfect symbol of hope and renewal. This physical resilience directly mirrors its symbolic role in the Bible, where it represents the flourishing of life in the face of desolation and the promise of restoration even after great adversity. The myrtle became a living model for human endurance and the belief that life can triumph over hardship.
A Note on the Myrtle Family: Common Myrtle vs. Crape Myrtle
When discussing the symbolism of the myrtle tree, it is important to make a distinction between two different plants that share a common name. The vast historical, mythological, and religious symbolism explored in this report belongs to the Common Myrtle (Myrtus communis), the species native to the Mediterranean region and the Middle East. This is the myrtle of Aphrodite, the Bible, and royal weddings.
Many people today are more familiar with the Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia), a popular ornamental tree known for its vibrant, long-lasting summer flowers. The Crape Myrtle is a different plant entirely, native to Asia, and was not known in ancient Europe or the Middle East.
Interestingly, the Crape Myrtle has developed its own set of symbolic meanings that sometimes overlap with those of the Common Myrtle. For example, because it is incredibly resilient and can thrive in intense heat, it has become a symbol of perseverance. Its long flowering period is seen as a symbol of enduring affection, and its beautiful blossoms are associated with love and romance. In Chinese culture, its vibrant blooms symbolize prosperity and good fortune. While these meanings developed independently, the parallels are striking. They show how different cultures, when observing a beautiful and hardy plant, often arrive at similar conclusions, associating it with positive and enduring human values like love, strength, and hope.
The Myrtle’s Unfading Legacy
From the myths of ancient Greece to the sacred prophecies of Isaiah, and from the traditions of Queen Victoria to the gardens of today, the myrtle tree has remained a constant and powerful symbol. Its journey through history is a testament to its ability to represent our most cherished ideals. As the sacred plant of Aphrodite, it became the ultimate emblem of love, beauty, and feminine power. As the hadas of the Bible, it transformed into a sign of divine promise, a symbol of peace and restoration that could make the desert bloom.
Through the language of flowers, it found a new voice in the Victorian era, speaking of fidelity and enduring affection, a tradition carried on today in the bouquets of royal brides who hold a living link to the past. And through it all, the tree’s own nature—its evergreen endurance, its pure fragrance, and its remarkable resilience—has grounded these meanings in the real world, reminding us that hope can flourish even in the most difficult conditions. The myrtle’s legacy is unfading, a quiet but constant reminder of the enduring power of love, peace, and renewal.