Floral Design in the Floral Design in the Western World/TimelineWestern World/Timeline

Ancient CivilizationsAncient Civilizations Egyptian Period / 2800 - 28 B.C.Egyptian Period / 2800 - 28 B.C. Greek Period / 600 - 146 B.C.Greek Period / 600 - 146 B.C. Roman Period / 28 B.C. - 325 A.D.Roman Period / 28 B.C. - 325 A.D.

Egyptian PeriodEgyptian Period(2800-28 B.C.)(2800-28 B.C.)

Flowers and floral design are often shown in Flowers and floral design are often shown in Egyptian artEgyptian art

Uses of cut flowers and foliageUses of cut flowers and foliagereligious ceremoniesreligious ceremoniesdecorative purposes in the homedecorative purposes in the home personal adornmentpersonal adornment

Egyptian Floral Designs Egyptian Floral Designs

Simplistic, repetitious, highly stylizedSimplistic, repetitious, highly stylized Flowers and fruit placed in carefully Flowers and fruit placed in carefully

alternating patterns, resulting in alternating patterns, resulting in regimented rowsregimented rows

Other flower designs included chaplets, Other flower designs included chaplets, wreaths, and garlandswreaths, and garlands

Primary colors and other vibrant color Primary colors and other vibrant color combinations used combinations used

Sacred Egyptian Sacred Egyptian FlowerFlower

Lotus flower was Lotus flower was the flower of the the flower of the Egyptian goddess, Egyptian goddess, Isis, and considered Isis, and considered sacredsacred

Commonly depicted Commonly depicted in Egyptian artin Egyptian art

Greek PeriodGreek Period

• Flowers and petals scattered on the ground during festivalsFlowers and petals scattered on the ground during festivals Flowers used in wreaths and garlandsFlowers used in wreaths and garlands Wreaths - the symbol of allegiance /dedicationWreaths - the symbol of allegiance /dedication Also worn at weddings and used to decorate homes, Also worn at weddings and used to decorate homes,

statues, and gravesstatues, and graves Books written on proper etiquette for wearing wreaths and Books written on proper etiquette for wearing wreaths and

garlandsgarlands

Greek PeriodGreek Period

Garland makers Garland makers were the flower were the flower designers of their designers of their day.day.

Greeks were the Greeks were the first to have first to have professional professional florists.florists.

Greek Greek PeriodPeriod

Cornucopia - Horn of PlentyCornucopia - Horn of Plenty

Roman PeriodRoman Period (28 B.C.-325 A.D.) (28 B.C.-325 A.D.)

Garlands and wreaths Garlands and wreaths more elaborate than more elaborate than Greeks.Greeks.

Flowers were highly Flowers were highly fragrant and brightly fragrant and brightly colored.colored.

Rose petals scattered Rose petals scattered lavishly during festivalslavishly during festivals

Roman Festivals

The Roman goddess, Flora, The Roman goddess, Flora, was the custodian of was the custodian of blossoming plantsblossoming plants

Floralia FestivalFloralia Festival Honored FloraHonored Flora City decorated in flowers, and City decorated in flowers, and

the people would wear floral the people would wear floral wreaths or flowers in their hairwreaths or flowers in their hair

Now known as May DayNow known as May Day

Roman PeriodRoman Period

Began arranging Began arranging flowers in basketsflowers in baskets

Roman mosaic Roman mosaic (2nd century) now (2nd century) now displayed in the displayed in the Vatican showed a Vatican showed a mix of flowers in mix of flowers in various colors and various colors and formsforms