Maybe it’s just me, but have you noticed that the fleur-de-lis
is making a thundering comeback? It seems to be everywhere. I first observed it
last month in New Orleans, which is natural because of the city’s connection to
French royalty. Now, I can’t seem
to avoid seeing this stylized lily (or lotus) everywhere I go.
I started thinking about the ancient artesian who developed
this iconic image and how he (or she) will never know that this symbol has
stood the test of time. According
to one legend, Clovis, the King of the Franks, succeeded in battle after water
lilies showed him how to safely cross a river and thus succeed in battle. Another story has an angel presenting
Clovis with a golden lily as a symbol of purification upon his conversion to
Christianity. In the 12th
century, King Louis VI or King Louis VII became the first monarch to use the
fleur-de-lis on his shield.
Whatever the origin,
the fleur-de-lis has been associated with everything from Joan of Arc to the
holy trinity to the Da Vinci Code to the New Orleans saints.
Kudos to that unknown
genius who, for centuries, has left his mark on the world.
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