The Olive, sacred to Pallas Athenē, was anciently a symbol of peace, an olive twig in the hands of kings, as represented on medals indicating a peaceful reign. The Palm also symbolised Victory, and in Christian Art is generally borne by the martyr--indicating victory over Death. The Lily--which, according to tradition, sprang from the repentant tears of Eve as she went forth from Paradise--is the emblem of Chastity, Innocence and Purity and is associated with representations of the Virgin. The Daffodil or Lenten Lily, which it was customary to plant on graves, was once white, the tradition being that Persephone, daughter of Demeter, delighted to wander about the flowering meads of Sicily. One springtime she tripped over the meadows, wreathed her head with wild lilies and, throwing herself on the leaves, fell asleep. Pluto, god of the infernal regions, fell in love with her and carried her to the nether world. At his touch the white flowers changed to a golden yellow. In Christian Art the apple is symbolical of the fall of man, and represents original sin; the rose symbolises Christian ecstacy, the Pomegranate (generally burst open with the seeds displayed) is the symbol of the future life and immortality. The vine and ears of corn are symbols of Christ, and the Wine-press an emblem of the Passion. The Passion-flower is emblematical of the Crucifixion--the leaf symbolising the spear; the anthers, the five wounds; the tendrils, cords or whips; the column or oviary, the hammer; the three styles, nails; the fleshy threads within the flower the crown of thorns, and the calyx, the nimbus. The white tint indicates “purity,” the blue “Heaven,” and the flower keeping open three days symbolises the three years’ ministry. _Sacred Animals_ Animals were also dedicated to special deities, the wolf, gryffon and crow being sacred to Apollo; the dragon and panther to Bacchus; the stag to Diana; the serpent to Æsculapius; the deer to Hercules; the heifer to Isis; the eagle to Jupiter; the peacock and lamb to Juno; the dog to the Lares; the horse and vulture to Mars; the cock to Mercury; the owl to Minerva; the bull to Neptune; the dove, swan and sparrow to Venus; and the lion to Vulcan. The lion also is the emblem of the tribe of Judah and is symbolical of the Resurrection. According to tradition the lion whelp is born dead, and so remains for three days, when the father breathes on it and it receives life. _Evangelist Symbols_ Mark, the Evangelist, is symbolised by a lion, because he begins his gospel with the scene of John the Baptist and Jesus in the Wilderness. Matthew, whose gospel commences with the humanity of Jesus as a descendant of David, is the only one of the Evangelists represented as a man. Luke is symbolised by a bull or calf, and John by an eagle--the former because his gospel opens with the priests sacrificing in the Temple, and the latter because he soars high and begins his gospel with the divinity of the Logos.