Modern Usage
An olive branch held by a dove was used as a peace symbol in 18th century Britain and America. A £2 note of North Carolina (1771) depicted the dove and olive with a motto meaning: "Peace restored". Georgia's $40 note of 1778 portrayed the dove and olive and a hand holding a dagger, with a motto meaning "Either war or peace, prepared for both." The olive branch appeared as a peace symbol in other 18th century prints. In January 1775, the frontispiece of the London Magazine published an engraving: "Peace descends on a cloud from the Temple of Commerce," in which the Goddess of Peace brings an olive branch to America and Britannia. A petition adopted by the American Continental Congress in July 1775 in the hope of avoiding a full-blown war with Great Britain was called the Olive Branch Petition.
On July 4, 1776, a resolution was passed that allowed the creation of the Great Seal of the United States. On the Great Seal, there is an eagle grasping an olive branch in its right talon. The olive branch traditionally has been recognized as a symbol for peace. Its history as a symbol for peace began in Ancient Greece. Legend has it that the Greek Gods Poseidon and Athena had a contest over who would be the patron for the city Athens. The winner would be chosen by the king of Athens at the time, Cecrops I, and he would evaluate them based on who could give a better gift to the city. Poseidon immediately struck the ground with his trident and a jet of water burst out. However, the water proved to be salty. Athena planted an olive branch in the ground and blessed the city with all of its uses. She was chosen as the winner and so Athens was named in her honor. Although peace was associated with the olive branch during the time of the Greeks, the symbolism became even stronger under the Pax Romana when envoys used the olive branch as tokens of peace.
It was added to the seal in March of 1780 by the second committee appointed by Congress to design the seal. The olive branch has thirteen olives and thirteen olive leaves to represent the thirteen original colonies. Later on, the bald eagle and bundle of arrows were added. The idea of the olive branch opposing the bundle of arrows was to "denote the power of peace & war which is exclusively vested in Congress."
The flag of Cyprus and coat of arms of Cyprus both use olive branches as symbols of peace and reflections of the country's ancient Greek heritage. Olive branches also appear in many police patches and badges across the world to signify peace...
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