THE OLIVE 121 



The olive branches of the ' Entry into Jeru- 

 salem,' like the olives of Gethsemane, were only 

 accidentally allegorical. The villagers of the 

 Mount of Olives cut down branches (presumably 

 olive branches) * and strewed them in the way.' 

 With palm branches they would salute any 

 popular leader, and it is scarcely to be believed 

 that they definitely selected the olive and 

 palm with the full understanding of the sym- 

 bolism which the Christian Church attaches to 

 them. 



* The olive branches signify his office as 

 peace-bringer and the palms his victory over 

 Satan.' ' 



There is in the Catacombs a figure of the 

 Virgin Mary praying between two olive trees. 

 Her name is inscribed above her head. She is 

 standing with raised hands in the early attitude 

 of prayer, and these olive trees apparently sym- 

 bolize * the peace of God which passeth all 

 understanding.' But after the twelfth century 

 the Church had identified the personality of 

 the Virgin with the figure of Wisdom eulogized 

 in Ecclesiasticus, and the olives which are some- 



' Durandus, Rat. Off., vi. 47-9. 



