"Of All The Flowers, Me Thinks A Rose Is Best."
W. Shakespeare
Throughout history, the rose has held a special place in the hearts and minds of many people all over the world. This elegant plant, which is almost 35 million years old according to fossil records, has sometimes been a symbol of love and innocence, and sometimes of war and politics.
It has been said that the Egyptian queen Cleopatra bathed herself in rose water to seduce the Roman commander Mark Antony. Roses were widely grown in the Roman period, too; they have been used in celebrations, in medicines, and as a source of perfume.
In Islamic mythology and mysticism, the rose represents divine beauty. It is believed that roses are the symbol of the Prophet Muhammad, reminding the beauty of his face and that his grave is the "rose garden".
In the 15th century, the rose became a symbol of factions fighting to control England. The white rose symbolized York and the red rose Lancaster, as a result the conflict became known as the "War of the Roses".
The Rose has also been the subject of various epics and myths. One of those stories says that the Rose was once a rare flower with the purest white color, that was quite beautiful and aware of her striking beauty. While the Nightingale was suffering from the love of the Rose, however, the Rose wasn't sharing the love of the Nightingale and did not accept his love.
The Nightingale, who always wanted to ease the pain of his troubles, decided to land to the delicate stem of his life's love and told the pain he has been enduring. As he talked, Rose's sharp thorns pricked his heart. The Nightingale dies, but the blood spilled from the wound in his heart to the bottom of the rose spreads to Rose's veins. His blood and unrequited love colored the Rose, turning her the brightest red. After that day, roses always bloom red.
