1. Floral Design in the Western World/Timeline
Ancient Civilizations
Egyptian Period / B.C.
Greek Period / B.C.
Roman Period / 28 B.C A.D.
The periods of floral design that will be covered in this presentation are broken up into two major categories. The first category includes periods of ancient civilization including the Egyptian period, the Greek period, the Roman period, and the Byzantine period.

2. Egyptian Period ( B.C.)
Flowers and floral design are often shown in Egyptian art
Uses of cut flowers and foliage
religious ceremonies
decorative purposes in the home
personal adornment
As in our day, flowers used during the Egyptian period were a part of important life events and were used during religious ceremonies, for decorative purposes in the home, and for personal adornment.

3. Egyptian Floral Designs
Simplistic, repetitious, highly stylized
Flowers and fruit placed in carefully alternating patterns, resulting in regimented rows
Other flower designs included chaplets, wreaths, and garlands
Primary colors and other vibrant color combinations used
The floral art of Egypt was simplistic, repetitious, and highly stylized. Flowers and fruits were placed in carefully alternating patterns, resulting in regimented rows.
Other floral designs included chaplets, wreaths, and garlands.
The primary colors of red, yellow, and blue were used predominately in floral designs, as were other vibrant color combinations.

4. Sacred Egyptian Flower
Lotus flower was the flower of the Egyptian goddess, Isis, and considered sacred
Commonly depicted in Egyptian art
The lotus flower, was the flower of the Egyptian goddess, Isis, and was considered sacred.
Isis was known in ancient Egypt as a protectress and a symbol of immortality. She was one of the most popular goddesses, widely worshipped by the Greeks and Romans

5. Greek Period
Flowers and petals scattered on the ground during festivals
Flowers used in wreaths and garlands
Wreaths - the symbol of allegiance /dedication
Also worn at weddings and used to decorate homes, statues, and graves
Books written on proper etiquette for wearing wreaths and garlands
Wreaths and garlands were a symbol of allegiance and dedication, and were awarded to honor athletes, poets, civic leaders, victorious soldiers and other heroes.
Garlands and wreaths were worn at weddings and used to decorate interiors and exteriors of homes, statues, and graves
Wreaths were so important that books were written on the correct way of wearing them as well as the appropriate flowers and foliage to use

6. Greek Period Garland makers were the flower designers of their day.
Greeks were the first to have professional florists.
Garland makers were hired to make wreaths and garlands as gifts and as decorations for special occasions.
This is the first record we have as floral design being recognized as a professional art.

7. Greek Period Cornucopia - Horn of Plenty
The cornucopia that we traditionally use during the Thanksgiving holiday was originally introduced during the Greek period. The Greeks placed in in an upright position with flowers, fruits, and vegetables spilling out of the top. Today we usually lay it on its side with its contents overflowing and spilling out.

8. Roman Period (28 B.C.-325 A.D.)
Garlands and wreaths more elaborate than Greeks.
Flowers were highly fragrant and brightly colored.
Rose petals scattered lavishly during festivals
We see many of the floral traditions of the Greek period overlapping into the Roman period however, these designs were usually much more elaborate and massive.
The Romans preferred highly fragrant and brightly colored flowers and would lavishly scarred petals and blossoms of roses on banquet tables, streets, and lakes during festivals.

9. Roman Festivals
The Roman goddess, Flora, was the custodian of blossoming plants
Floralia Festival
Honored Flora
City decorated in flowers, and the people would wear floral wreaths or flowers in their hair
Now known as May Day
It was evident that flowers played a very important role during the Roman period because they had a Roman goddess, Flora, who was the custodian of blossoming plants.
The Romans held an annual festival called The Floralia which honored the goddess, Flora, During the festival cities would be decorated in flowers, and the people would wear floral wreaths or flowers in their hair.
Today, may countries, including the United State, celebrate this day which is known as May Day.

10. Roman Period Began arranging flowers in baskets
Roman mosaic (2nd century) now displayed in the Vatican showed a mix of flowers in various colors and forms
It was during the Roman period that a floral design within a container was first depicted.
The world-famous Roman mosaic, the “basket of flower” now is displayed in the Vatican Museum in Rome and is the first representation of a naturalistic flower design. This mosaic shows a grouping of mixed flowers including roses, anemones, tulips, and dianthus displaying different colors and forms.