Uses of Rose Throughout History

The Rose is said to be one of the most ancient flowers in existence; rose fossil remains, dating back over 35 million years, have been discovered in Colorado, North America, as well as throughout Europe and Asia. It is thought that these early flowers, which resembled the wild Sweetbrier, were used for food and medicine. They had five petals and were usually either pink or white in color.

However, the roses found in China were yellow and as trade routes opened up between East and West the early species of roses became subject to cross pollination and thus the emergence of new species of roses. The Chinese kept written records of their roses and Confucius (500 BC) recorded the growing and cultivation of roses in the Imperial Rose Garden of the Chinese Emperor.

Greek Use of the Rose

The Greeks saw the rose as a symbol of the future for their culture and were credited with defining the term sub rosa. The Greeks decorated the ceilings of their conference rooms with roses, wherever a secret meeting was held. Everything discussed in the room was considered to be confidential; hence sub rosa. Greek poets wrote about roses and the Greek island of Rhodes means roses.

Roman Use of the Rose

The Romans originally used the rose for medicinal purposes but the popularity of the rose for other uses soon grew. Roses became so popular in ancient Rome that local trade could not fulfill the demand; even Cleopatra was said to have her bed and floors covered in fresh rose petals when entertaining guests. As a result of the demand, roses were shipped from Egypt in huge copper containers to maintain their freshness.

Roses were used in Roman houses for table decorations and the floors of banqueting halls were strewn with rose petals. Guests were showered in fragrant rose petals, in the belief that the rose was both an aphrodisiac and an antidote to combat drunkenness. The Romans also began the custom of planting a red rose on a dead lover’s grave and a white rose on the grave of a young woman (to demonstrate purity).

English Use of the Rose

Monastery gardens of Medieval England were full of roses; roses were closely associated with the church, particularly the wild red rose which was considered to represent the blood of Christ and each of its five petals represented his five wounds. Rose hips were used to make rosaries and many Rose windows are found in English cathedrals.

The rose was represented in poetry, symbolism, heraldry and art throughout the West. The famous War of the Roses of fifteenth century England was symbolized by the white and the red rose; the House of York was represented by the white rose and the House of Lancaster by the red rose.

French Use of the Rose

Roses were the favorite flower of the Empress Josephine of France; the best botanists created some of the most perfect roses for Josephine for her Paris estate and were forever preserved in art paintings by Redoute. Throughout the Napoleonic wars, rose seeds were transported between England and France without resistance due to her patronage. As a result, France was the leading exporter or roses in the 19th century Western hemisphere. Today, roses are still as popular and considered to be the ‘world’s favorite flower’.

References:

Botanica, 1998 Roses New York, USA: Welcome Rain

Taylor, Barbara Lea 2004 Old-fashioned and David Austin Roses New Zealand: Firefly Books

For Further Reading:

The Symbol of the Forget-Me-Not Flower

An Aromatherapy Garden

Gardens of Pompeii