custom, common to both Greeks and Romans, to mix the flowers 

 of their chaplets in their wine, when they pledged the healths of 

 their friends. Cleopatra, to ridicule the mistrust of Antony, who 

 would never eat or drink at her table without causing his taster to 

 test every viand, lest any should be poisoned, commanded a chaplet 

 of flowers to be prepared for the Roman General, the edges of 

 which were dipped in the most deadly poison, whilst that which 

 was woven for her own brow was, as usual, mixed with aromatic 

 spices. At the banquet Antony received his coronet of flowers, 

 and when they had become cheerful through the aid of Bacchus, 

 Cleopatra pledged him in wine, and taking off the wreath from her 

 head, and rubbing the blossoms into her goblet, drank off" the 

 contents. Antony was following her example, but just as he had 

 raised the fatal cup to his lips, the Queen seized his arm, exclaiming, 

 " Cure your jealous fears, and learn that I should not have to seek 

 the means of your destruction, could I live without you." She then 

 ordered a prisoner to be brought before them, who, on drinking the 

 wine from Antony's goblet, instantly expired in their presence. 



The Romans wore garlands at sacred rites, games and 

 festivals, on journeys and in war. When an army was freed from 

 a blockade its deliverer was presented with a crown composed of 

 the Grass growing on the spot. In modern heraldry, this crown of 

 Grass is called the Crown Obsidional, and appertains to the 

 general who has held a fortress against a besieging army and 

 ultimately relieved it from the assailants. To him who had saved 

 the life of a Roman soldier was given a chaplet of Oak-leaves : this 

 is the modern heraldic civic crown bestowed on a brave soldier 

 who has saved the life of a comrade or has rescued him after having 

 been taken prisoner by the enemy. The glories of all grand deeds 

 were signalized by the crown of Laurel among both Greeks and 

 Romans. This is the heraldic Crown Triumphant, adjudged in 

 our own times to a general who has achieved a signal victory. 

 The Romans were not allowed by law to appear in festal garlands 

 on ordinary occasions. Hence Caesar valued most highly the 

 privilege accorded him by the Senate of wearing a Laurel crown, 

 because it screened his baldness, which, both by the Romans and 

 Jews, was considered a deformity. This crown was generally 

 composed of the Alexandrian Laurel (Rusctis Hypoglossimi) — the 

 Laurel usually depicted on busts and coins. The victors at the 

 athletic games were adjudged crowns differing in their composition 

 according to the place in which they had won their honours. Thus, 

 crowns of 



Olive were given at the Olympic games. 



Beech, Laurel, or Palm ,, ,, ,, ,, Pythian ,, 



Parsley ,, ,, ,, ,, Nemean ,, 



Pine ,, ,, ,, ,, Isthmian ,, 



It is not too much to say that Greeks and Romans employed 

 arlands, wreaths, and festoons of flowers on every possible 



