Such details as the festoons, wreaths, tripods and altars as appear in the Renaissance ornament were originally associated with victory, sacrifice and religious observance. _Early Symbolic Ornament_ It has previously been suggested that the early employment of natural types was symbolic in the Egyptian treatment of the Lotus and Papyrus, which, providing material for woven fabrics and for manuscripts, were therefore esteemed. These details associated as they frequently are with the zigzag line, are symbolic of the fertilizing of the land resulting from the periodical inundation of the Nile. The date-palm on account of its value as food was symbolised by the Assyrians as the tree of life in the fronding Anthemion form, which undoubtedly influenced the later ornament. The Palm-tree was said to grow faster for being weighted down, hence it was the symbol of Resolution overcoming Calamity. The oriental belief was that it sprang from the residue clay from which Adam was formed. Symbolism, universally understood as it undoubtedly was in early times, implied a universal interest on the part of the individual and the general community. The absence of this interest in more modern work is to be deplored. A common example of the employment of such symbols, which however is fast disappearing, is the barber’s pole, the gilt knob of which represents the basin, and the pole the staff held by the patients in the operation of venesection. The painted spiral stripes are to indicate the respective bandages, one for twisting round the arm previous to blood-letting, the other for final bindings. _Customs_ The modern custom in salutation of shaking hands or raising the hat is a survival--the former of the ancient custom of adversaries in treating of a truce taking hold of the weapon hand to ensure against treachery--the latter of the removal of the helmet when no danger is nigh, to show that one can stand unprotected. The custom in Courts-martial of placing the sword hilt or point towards the accused, according to judgment, is also a survival. In ancient times, if a stranger on arrival held the point of a spear forward, it denoted a declaration of war; but if carried with the point behind, he came in friendship and peace. There are opportunities where the decorative element could be such as to, embody or vindicate local character or purpose, but with the decadence of symbolism much of our modern ornament fails to interest, because it has no meaning that is understood or can be appreciated. _Origin of Mythology_ Mythology had its origin in the superstitions of primitive man, to whom the gods were forces of Nature improperly understood, and to whom Light and Darkness would appeal as beneficent or malignant forces according to how they affected his personal comfort.