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Home , Apple (symbolism), Apple Wassail, Forbidden fruit, Golden apple

Apple (symbolism) 1 (symbolism)

Apples appear in many religious traditions, often as a mystical or forbidden . One of the problems identifying in , mythology and folktales is that as late as the 17th century, the word "apple" was used as a generic term for all (foreign) fruit other than berries, but including nuts.[1] This term may even have extended to plant galls, as they were thought to be of plant origin (see oak apple). For instance, when tomatoes were introduced into , they were called "love apples". In one Old English work, cucumbers are called eorþæppla (lit. "earth-apples'), just as in French, Dutch, Hebrew, Persian and Swiss German, the words for potatoes mean "earth-apples" in English. In some languages, oranges are called "golden apples" or "Chinese apples". Datura is called 'thorn-apple".

Ethnobotanical and ethnomycological scholars such as R. Gordon Wasson, Carl Ruck and Clark Heinrich write that the mythological Verticordia - Dante Rossetti - 1866 apple is a symbolic substitution for the entheogenic (or fly agaric) mushroom. Its association with knowledge is an allusion to the revelatory states described by some shamans and users of psychedelic mushrooms. At times artists would co-opt the apple, as well as other religious symbology, whether for ironic effect or as a stock element of symbolic vocabulary. Thus, secular art as well made use of the apple as symbol of love and sexuality. It is often an attribute associated with Venus who is shown holding it.

Mythology and religion

Though the in the is not identified, popular Christian tradition holds that and ate an apple from the forbidden tree in the . This may have been the result of Renaissance painters adding elements of into biblical scenes. The unnamed fruit of Eden thus became an apple under the influence of the story of the golden apples in the Garden of . As a result, the apple became a symbol for knowledge, , temptation, the and .

The word "μήλον" (mēlon), now a loanword in English as melon or water melon did not mean, in Homer's time, apple, the pomaceous fruit, but sheep or goat.[2] In , the words for 'apple' ("mālum") and for 'evil' ("malum") are nearly identical. This may also have influenced the apple's becoming interpreted as the biblical 'forbidden fruit' in the commonly used Latin translation called

Adam and Eve: a classic depiction of the biblical "". The larynx in the throat has been called Adam's tale showcasing the apple as a symbol of sin. apple because of the folk tale that the bulge was caused by the Albrecht Dürer, 1507; oil on panel. forbidden fruit sticking in the throat of Adam. The apple as symbol of sexual seduction has sometimes been used to imply sexuality between men, possibly in an ironic vein. Apple (symbolism) 2

The notion of the apple as a symbol of sin is reflected in artistic renderings of the fall from Eden. When held in Adam's hand, the apple symbolises sin. But, when Christ is portrayed holding an apple, he represents the Second Adam who brings life. This difference reflects the evolution of the symbol in . In the , the apple was significant of ; in the , it is an emblem of the redemption from that fall. The apple is represented in pictures of the and Infant as another sign of that redemption.

In some versions (such as Young's Literal Translation) of the , the Hebrew word for dudaim (Genesis 30:14) is translated as "love apples" (not to be confused with the tomatoes). There are several instances in the Old Testament where the apple is used in a more favourable light. The phrase 'the apple of your eye' Francisco de Zurbarán - A Virgem da Maçã, comes from verses in Deuteronomy 32:10, Psalm 17:8 Proverbs 7:2, 1660-64 and Zechariah 2:8, implying an object or person who is greatly valued. In Proverbs 25:11, the verse states, "a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver". In the love songs of the Song of Solomon, the apple is used in a sensual context. In these latter instances, the apple is used as a symbol for beauty. The apple appears again in Joel 1:12 in a verse with a sense of profound loss when withers. During the Jewish New Year - [Rosh Hashanah] - it is customary to eat apples dipped in honey to evoke a "sweet new year".

It is a long-standing tradition in many tribal communities that the first born child of any couple shall be presented with an apple randomly picked from a tree by their paternal grandparents on the day of their birth. If the chosen apple is sliced open and revealed to have a worm inside, it is a bad omen and on their 21st birthday, the child must perform a dance to the fruit to spare the lives of their own offspring.

Greek

The Greek hero , as a part of his Twelve Labours, was required to travel to the Garden of the Hesperides and pick the golden apples off the growing at its center. , also of Greek mythology, raced all her suitors in an attempt to avoid marriage. She outran all but (a.k.a. Melanion, a name possibly derived from melon the Greek word for both "apple" and fruit in general), who defeated her by cunning, not speed. Hippomenes knew that he could not win in a fair race, so he used three golden apples (gifts of , the goddess of love) to distract Atalanta. It took all three apples and all of his speed, but Hippomenes was finally successful, winning the race and Atalanta's hand.

The Greek goddess of discord, , became disgruntled after she was excluded from the wedding of and . In retaliation, she Atalanta and Hippomenes tossed a inscribed Kallisti ('For the most beautiful one'), into the wedding party. Three goddesses claimed the apple: , , and Aphrodite. of was appointed to select the recipient. After being bribed by both Hera and Athena, Aphrodite tempted him with the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta. He awarded the apple to Aphrodite, thus indirectly causing the . Apple (symbolism) 3

Norse In , the goddess Iðunn was the appointed keeper of golden apples that kept the Æsir young (or immortal) forever. Iðunn was abducted by Þjazi the giant, who used to lure Iðunn and her apples out of Ásgarðr. The Æsir began to age without Iðunn's apples, so they coerced Loki into rescuing her. After borrowing 's falcon skin, Loki liberated Iðunn from Þjazi by transforming her into a nut for the flight back. Þjazi gave chase in the form of an eagle, whereupon reaching Ásgarðr he was set aflame by a bonfire lit by the Æsir. With the return of Iðunn's apples, the Æsir regained their lost youth. Apple trees were the symbol of rebirth and beauty; the apple tree was sacred in Norse mythology.

Celtic

Celtic mythology includes a story about Conle who receives an apple which feeds him for a year but also gives him an irresistible desire for fairyland.[citation needed] Allantide (Cornish: Kalan Gwav, meaning first day of winter) is a Cornish festival that was traditionally celebrated on the night of 31st October, as well as the following day time. One of the most important parts of this festival was the giving of Allan apples, large glossy red apples that were highly polished, to family and friends as tokens of good luck. Allan apple markets used to be held

throughout West in the run up to The Allantide game the feast. and in the town of St Just it surpassed as a time for giving gifts until the late 20th century. A game was also recorded in which two pieces of wood were nailed together in the shape of a cross. It was then suspended, with 4 lit candles on each arm and Allan apples suspended underneath. The aim being to catch the apples with your mouth without getting molten wax on your face. For unmarried recipients the apples would be placed under their pillows in the hope that they would bring dreams of their future wife or husband.[3]

Legends, , and traditions • In North America an American Indian (Native American) is called an "apple" (a slur that stands for someone who is "red on the outside, white on the inside.") primarily by other American Indians to indicate someone who has lost touch with their cultural identity. First used in the 1980s.[4] • Apples feature frequently in fairy tales. A well-known example is "Snow White", in which a poisonous apple puts Snow White to sleep. In Le piacevoli notti (The Facetious Nights) of Giovanni Francesco Straparola, apples appear in four stories.[5] • Savior of the Apple Feast Day is celebrated on August 19 in Russia and Ukraine. • A boatbuilder's superstition holds that it is unlucky to build a boat out of wood from an apple tree because this wood was previously used to manufacture coffins.[6] • Since 1990, Apple Day has been held across the UK and beyond, on October 21. This is a festival created by charity Common Ground to support localism: folksongs, biodiversity, buried orchards, children's games. • Swiss folklore holds that William Tell shot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow. Apple (symbolism) 4

• Irish folklore claims that if an apple is peeled into one continuous ribbon and thrown behind a woman's shoulder, it will land in the shape of the future husband's initials. • Danish folklore says that apples wither around adulterers.[citation needed] • A popular folk art involves a process to turn apples into wrinkly representations of human heads, usually be placed on dolls.[7] In 1975, Vincent Price promoted a horror-themed kit that used a similar process to create faux shrunken heads, Shrunken Head Apple Sculpture, by Whiting Crafts. • According to popular legend, upon witnessing an apple fall from its tree, Isaac Newton was inspired to conclude that a similar 'universal gravitation' attracted the moon toward the Earth. (This legend is discussed in more detail in the article on Isaac Newton). • In Arthurian legend, the mythical isle of 's name is believed to mean 'isle of apples'. • In some places, apple bobbing is a traditional activity.[8] • During the Jewish New Year - [Rosh Hashanah] - it is customary to eat apples dipped in honey to evoke a "sweet new year". • In the 19th and early 20th century, and 21st century United States, and Sweden, a fresh, polished apple was a traditional children's gift for a teacher. • The Apple is a traditional form of practiced in orchards of South West England during the winter. The ceremony is said to 'bless' the apple trees to produce a good crop in the forthcoming season. • New York City is often called "The Big Apple." The term "The Big Apple" was coined by touring jazz musicians and horse racers of the 1920s who used the slang expression "apple" for any town or city. Therefore, to play New York City is to play the big time - The Big Apple. • "Comparing apples and oranges" means to examine the similarities of things that are completely different; in German and Dutch the corresponding expression is "comparing apples with pears". • "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is a popular saying, the apple obviously symbolizing health, but also the advantages of eating fresh fruit. • "Apples and Pears", Cockney rhyming slang for stairs • Johnny Appleseed is said to have wandered the early United States planting apple trees. • The apple is symbolic for the Trinity Mathematical Society. • The design concept for the Design and Arts Arcadia of Myungseung, located in Chuncheon, Korea, is based on an apple with the top-third and the bottom-third sliced off while having the skin peeled around the circumference.' • In Kazakhstan, the ex-capital city's name "Almaty" derives from the Kazakh word for 'apple' (алма), and thus is often translated as "full of apples;" alma is also 'apple' in other Turkic languages, as well as in Hungarian.

References

[1] "apple." Online Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. 25 May. 2011. http:/ / dictionary. reference. com/ browse/ apple

[2] Entry μῆλον (http:/ / www. . tufts. edu/ hopper/ text?doc=Perseus:text:1999. 04. 0057:entry=mh=lon1) at Liddell & Scott. [3] Simon Reed - The Cornish Traditional Year 2009

[4] Green, 2005, ISBN 0-304-36636-6, p. 29 (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=5GpLcC4a5fAC& pg=PA17& vq=apple& dq=green+

dictionary+ slang& source=gbs_search_s& cad=0#PPA28,M1).

[5] Surlalunefairytales.com (http:/ / www. surlalunefairytales. com/ facetiousnights) [6] Eyers, Jonathan (2011). Don't Shoot the Albatross!: Nautical and Superstitions. A&C Black, London, UK. ISBN 978-1-4081-3131-2.

[7] [[Apple doll (http:/ / www. appledolls. org/ )]s, how to make apple dolls, purchase dolls, witches- instructions by Pamela Matson]

[8] History and customs of Halloween (http:/ / wilstar. com/ holidays/ hallown. htm) Apple (symbolism) 5

Venus Holding The Virgin and Child "Two Young Men", an Apple, D. Under an Apple Tree, Crispin van den Broeck (Dutch), ca. 1590; Oil Mauch L. Cranach on panel; Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. Article Sources and Contributors 6 Article Sources and Contributors

Apple (symbolism) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=597736145 Contributors: Adhirk, Amicon, Anbu121, Aua, BD2412, Bender235, Bloodofox, Bodrugan, Boffob, Bongwarrior, Brandmeister, Christian75, Closedmouth, Cocoh, CuteHappyBrute, Dante Alighieri, Dekimasu, Doctorfluffy, Dreamafter, Drmies, Gaanders, Gillyweed, Haiduc, Harleen.sandhu, Ida Shaw, Inferno, Lord of Penguins, Invertzoo, Ipigott, Jeff1776, Jengod, Jonkerz, JustAGal, Ktr101, Lauracs, Lphiekbi, Mannanan51, Maurice Carbonaro, Milton Stanley, Odysses, OrangeDog, Outriggr, Parkwells, Philip Trueman, Portillo, ProGloriaDei, RadioFan, RedHillian, Rjwilmsi, SatyrTN, Simsomsam, Sophus Bie, Tchoutoye, Texas2363, Wavelength, WereSpielChequers, Wereon, Woohookitty, Yonskii, Zythe, 72 anonymous edits Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:Venus Verticordia - Dante Rossetti - 1866.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Venus_Verticordia_-_Dante_Rossetti_-_1866.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: BrightRaven, Kilom691, Raymac File:Durer .jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Durer_Adam_and_Eve.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Andreagrossmann, Aua, Darwinius,

Eusebius, Herbythyme, Ionutzmovie, Jerem43, Kilom691, Mattes, Mauro Lanari, Oursana, Ranveig, Rex, Sailko, Ukko.de, Wst, ゆ い し あ す, 7 anonymous edits File:Francisco de Zurbarán - A Virgem da Maçã, 1660-64.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Francisco_de_Zurbarán_-_A_Virgem_da_Maçã,_1660-64.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Auntof6, Dornicke, Mindmatrix File:Nicolas Colombel 002.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Nicolas_Colombel_002.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Cynwolfe, Darwinius, Gryffindor, Mattes, Salomis, Trzęsacz Image:Allantide.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Allantide.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Reedgunner (talk) File:Daniel Mauch - Venus Holding an Apple - Walters 6119 - View A.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Daniel_Mauch_-_Venus_Holding_an_Apple_-_Walters_6119_-_View_A.jpg License: unknown Contributors: BrightRaven, Cynwolfe, Shakko File:Cranach, Lucas, I - The Virgin and Child Under an Apple Tree.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Cranach,_Lucas,_I_-_The_Virgin_and_Child_Under_an_Apple_Tree.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Boo-Boo Baroo, Frank C. Müller, Kramer Associates, Mattes, Mindmatrix, Olpl, Platonides, Ras67, Zolo File:Two Young Men, Crispin van den Broeck.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Two_Young_Men,_Crispin_van_den_Broeck.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: User:Common Good License

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