The Origins of Roses

In ancient Greece and Rome, there doesn't seem to have been widespread cultivation. But roses still had symbolic significance and were highly valued. During the Han dynasty, a few hundred years later, the flowers were cultivated on a large scale. Emperors would fill the palace gardens and surrounding countryside with fields upon fields of roses. This cultural obsession lasted for centuries. Meanwhile, in other parts of the world, roses were being used in different ways. The Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite and her Roman equivalent, Venus, were both associated with the rose. Like Aphrodite, Venus was the deity of roses, love and marriage. For the Romans, they represented confidentiality and secrecy.

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