Mysterious and famous heraldic lily

Perhaps no other flower, except for the rose, has acquired such worldwide and historical popularity as the heraldic lily. Amazingly fragile and truly royal in beauty, the flower has become a source of inspiration. It was actively used not only as a symbol, but also as an element of floral ornament for the production of fabrics or for painting walls in the homes of wealthy citizens of many countries. It adorned the emblems of eminent royal families, the royal press, and today it is often found in various images. The sign of the lily became a real cult for the representatives of various clans and was even considered a magical and sacred symbol. What is the reason for this popularity?

To begin with, there is an opinion that the heraldic lily is an image of a completely different, more modest flower, namely, a terry iris (in any case, a number of sources say so). Of course, the traits of this plant can be easily traced in an ornate stylized image. However, if we assume that this is iris, the meaning itself, which is endowed with the heraldic sign of the French kings, loses meaning. Therefore, we consider the opinion of the flora world experts, but, nevertheless, we will consider that this symbol is a lily, and not that other.

The history of the appearance of a surprisingly popular image is attributed to the time when France was not yet a monarchy. More precisely, this is the end of the 5th century AD. It was then, adopting Christianity, the founder of the French kingdom (Clovis) changed three very unattractive toads on his coat of arms to the amazingly beautiful flowers in his charm. Why lilies, not roses? This question can be answered in the history of the meaning of symbols.

For unknown reasons, it is the royal lily that is the flower that is considered the embodiment of a number of directly opposite qualities. This is purity and vice (remember the magnificent Milady, and in general branding criminals with the sign of lilies), fragility and luxury. Did not escape the heraldic lily and some deliberate distortions of its meaning. Inquisitors during the torture of the "blasphemers" often held white flowers in their hands, as the personification of the future purity of the soul. In ancient Rome, the royal lily was considered the embodiment of nobility and prosperity. Often, in images devoted to the Last Judgment, you can see the flower of the Son of God along with the sword.

Surprisingly, this symbol is not a finding of the French heraldry. Its image is met both in the Ancient East and in Palestine. In Italy it was used on royal seals. The Golden Heraldic lily has been adorned for many years with the royal flag of France and the coat of arms of several Polish princes. It is still used today in popular ornaments that we see on the walls of home interiors or in exhibition halls of museums dedicated to the history of medieval Europe and the East. The surprisingly harmonious shape and attractive symmetry of the "fleur-de-fox" (and this is how this magnificent symbol is called) has provided it with incredible popularity not only among noble Frenchmen, but in modern society.