The concept of peace is a very important one in cultures all over the world .Think about how we greet people .In some languages ,the phrases for greetings contain the word for peace. In some cultures we greet people by shaking hands or with another gesture to show that we are not carrying weapons that we come in peace .And there are certain symbols which people in every different culture recognize as representing peace .Let’s look at the origins of a few of them .
The dove
The dove has been a symbol of peace for thousands of years n many different cultures. In ancient Greek mythology it was a symbol of love and the renewal of life. In ancient Japan a dove carrying a sword symbolized the end of war.
There was a tradition in Europe that f a dove flew around a house where someone was dying then their soul would be at peace .And there are legends which say that the devil can turn himself into any bird except for a dove. But it was Pablo Picasso who made the dove a modern symbol of peace when he used it on a poster for the World Peace Congress in 1949.
The rainbow
The rainbow is another ancient and universal symbol, often representing the connection between human beings and their gods. In Greek mythology it was associated with Iris, the goddess who brought messages from the gods on Mounts Olympus .In Scandinavian mythology the rainbow was a bridge between the gods and the earth. In the Bible a rainbow showed Noah that the flood was finally over, and that god had forgiven his people . In the Chinese tradition, the rainbow is a common symbol for marriage because the colours represent the union of yin and yang . Nowadays the rainbow is used by many popular movements for peace and the environment, representing the possibility of a better world in the future and promising sunshine after the sun .
The olive branch
The olive tree has always been a valuable source of food and oil. In Greek mythology, the goddness Athene gave the olive tree to the people of Athens ,who showed their gratitude by naming the city after her. But no one knows for sure when or why it began to symbolize peace . There is probably a connection winners were given crowns of olive branches. The symbolism may come from the fact that the olive tree of peace . Whatever the history, the olive branch is a part of many modern flags symbolizing peace and unity. One well-known example is the United Nations symbol.

在世界各国的文化中,和平是个非常重要的概念.想想人们打招呼的方式.在有些语言中,问候用语就包含了和平这个字眼.在部分文化里,人们以握手或其他手势欢迎来者,表明自己未曾携带武器,以示和平的来意.每一种不同的文化都有一些代表和平的特定象征.让我们来看看其中几个象征的由来.

鸽子

几千年来,在许多不同的文化里,鸽子都被视作和平的象征.古希腊神话中的鸽子,是爱与重生的表征.在古代日本 ,衔剑的鸽子寓意着战争的结束.

欧洲人笃信,如果有只鸽子环绕着濒死者的住处飞翔,那么弥留者的灵魂就是宁静安详的.民间流传着这样的说法:魔鬼转世时可以变成其他任一种鸟,但就是不能变为鸽子.不过,为鸽子赋予了现代和平意义的人是巴勃罗.毕加索,他在为1949年世界和平大会所做的招贴画上,使用了鸽子的形象.

雨虹

另一个既古老又常见的和平象征是雨虹,她通常代表人类与他们的神祗之间的联系.在希腊神话中,雨虹是与女神爱丽斯相关联的,爱丽丝负责传递奥林匹斯山众神的消息.在斯堪的纳维亚神话里,雨虹是架在天上诸神与地上众生间的桥梁.圣经说:一道雨虹的出现昭告挪亚,洪水终于退去,上帝宽恕了他的子民.按照中国人的传统说法,雨虹通常代表姻缘,因为那缤纷的色彩象征着阴阳的结合.如今,雨虹被广泛使用于和平与环保运动,寓意未来世界更加美好的可能,冀望天长地久阳光普照的实现.

橄榄枝

一直以来,橄榄树就是宝贵的食物和食用油的来源.在古希腊神话中,女神雅典娜将橄榄树赠予了雅典的民众,为了报答女神的恩惠,当地民众决定以女神的名字命名自己的城邦.然而,没有人确切地知道,究竟何时,究竟是为何原因,才使得橄榄枝成为了和平的象征.也许,人们通常授予胜利者冠状橄榄枝与此有关.这可能意味着橄榄树代表和平的事实.无论其历史为何,如今,橄榄枝已是众多表征和平团结旗帜的一个组成部分.其中最著名的,就是联合国会徽.