Apple (symbolism)

Apples appear in many religious traditions, often as a mystical or forbidden fruit. One of the
problems identifying apples in religion, mythology and folktales is that as late as the 17th
century, the word "apple" was used as a generic term for all (foreign) fruit other than berries, but
including nuts.[1] This term may even have extended to plant galls, as they were thought to be of
plant origin (see oak apple). For instance, when tomatoes were introduced into Europe, they were
called "love apples". In one Old English work, cucumbers are called eorppla (lit. "earthapples'), just as in French, Dutch, Hebrew, Persian and Swiss German as well as several other
German dialects, the words for potatoes mean "earth-apples" in English. In some languages,
oranges are called "golden apples" or "Chinese apples". Datura is called 'thorn-apple".

Ethnobotanical and ethnomycological scholars such as R. Gordon Wasson, Carl Ruck and Clark
Heinrich write that the mythological apple is a symbolic substitution for the entheogenic
Amanita muscaria (or fly agaric) mushroom. Its association with knowledge is an allusion to the
revelatory states described by some shamans and users of psychedelic mushrooms.[2][3][4] At
times artists would co-opt the apple, as well as other religious symbology, whether for ironic
effect or as a stock element of symbolic vocabulary. Thus, secular art as well made use of the
apple as symbol of love and sexuality. It is often an attribute associated with Venus who is shown
holding it.
Mythology and religion
Adam and Eve: a classic depiction of the biblical tale showcasing the apple as a symbol
of sin. Albrecht Drer, 1507; oil on panel.
Though the forbidden fruit in the Book of Genesis is not identified, popular Christian
tradition holds that Adam and Eve ate an apple from the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden.
This may have been the result of Renaissance painters adding elements of Greek mythology into
biblical scenes. The unnamed fruit of Eden thus became an apple under the influence of the story
of the golden apples in the Garden of Hesperides. As a result, the apple became a symbol for
knowledge, immortality, temptation, the fall of man and sin.

The Ancient Greek word "" (mlon), now a loanword in English as melon or water
melon did not mean, in Homer's time, apple, the pomaceous fruit, but sheep or goat.[5] In Latin,
the words for 'apple' ("mlum") and for 'evil' ("mlum") are nearly identical. This may also have
influenced the apple's becoming interpreted as the biblical 'forbidden fruit' in the commonly used
Latin translation called "Vulgate". The larynx in the human throat has been called Adam's apple
because of the folk tale that the bulge was caused by the forbidden fruit sticking in the throat of
Adam. The apple as symbol of sexual seduction has sometimes been used to imply sexuality
between men, possibly in an ironic vein.
The notion of the apple as a symbol of sin is reflected in artistic renderings of the fall
from Eden. When held in Adam's hand, the apple symbolises sin. But, when Christ is portrayed
holding an apple, he represents the Second Adam who brings life. This difference reflects the
evolution of the symbol in Christianity. In the Old Testament, the apple was significant of the fall
of man; in the New Testament, it is an emblem of the redemption from that fall. The apple is
represented in pictures of the Madonna and Infant Jesus as another sign of that redemption.
In some versions (such as Young's Literal Translation) of the Bible, the Hebrew word for
mandrakes dudaim (Genesis 30:14) is translated as "love apples" (not to be confused with the
New World tomatoes). There are several instances in the Old Testament where the apple is used
in a more favourable light. The phrase 'the apple of your eye' comes from verses in Deuteronomy
32:10, Psalm 17:8 Proverbs 7:2, and Zechariah 2:8, implying an object or person who is greatly
valued. In Proverbs 25:11, the verse states, "a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings
of silver". In the love songs of the Song of Solomon, the apple is used in a sensual context. In
these latter instances, the apple is used as a symbol for beauty. The apple appears again in Joel
1:12 in a verse with a sense of profound loss when the apple tree withers. During the Jewish New
Year - [Rosh Hashanah] - it is customary to eat apples dipped in honey to evoke a "sweet new
year".
It is a long-standing tradition in many tribal communities that the first born child of any
couple shall be presented with an apple randomly picked from a tree by their paternal
grandparents on the day of their birth. If the chosen apple is sliced open and revealed to have a
worm inside, it is a bad omen and on their 21st birthday, the child must perform a dance to the
fruit gods to spare the lives of their own offspring.

Greek
The Greek hero Heracles, as a part of his Twelve Labours, was required to travel to the
Garden of the Hesperides and pick the golden apples off the Tree of Life growing at its center.
Atalanta, also of Greek mythology, raced all her suitors in an attempt to avoid marriage.
She outran all but Hippomenes (a.k.a. Melanion, a name possibly derived from melon the Greek
word for both "apple" and fruit in general), who defeated her by cunning, not speed. Hippomenes
knew that he could not win in a fair race, so he used three golden apples (gifts of Aphrodite, the
goddess of love) to distract Atalanta. It took all three apples and all of his speed, but Hippomenes
was finally successful, winning the race and Atalanta's hand.
The Greek goddess of discord, Eris, became disgruntled after she was excluded from the
wedding of Peleus and Thetis. In retaliation, she tossed a golden apple inscribed Kallisti ('For the
most beautiful one'), into the wedding party. Three goddesses claimed the apple: Hera, Athena,
and Aphrodite. Paris of Troy was appointed to select the recipient. After being bribed by both
Hera and Athena, Aphrodite tempted him with the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of
Sparta. He awarded the apple to Aphrodite, thus indirectly causing the Trojan War.
Norse
In Norse mythology, the goddess Iunn was the appointed keeper of golden apples that
kept the sir young (or immortal) forever. Iunn was abducted by jazi the giant, who used Loki
to lure Iunn and her apples out of sgarr. The sir began to age without Iunn's apples, so
they coerced Loki into rescuing her. After borrowing Freyja's falcon skin, Loki liberated Iunn
from jazi by transforming her into a nut for the flight back. jazi gave chase in the form of an
eagle, whereupon reaching sgarr he was set aflame by a bonfire lit by the sir. With the
return of Iunn's apples, the sir regained their lost youth. Apple trees were the symbol of
rebirth and beauty; the apple tree was sacred in Norse mythology.
Celtic
The Allantide game

Allantide (Cornish: Kalan Gwav, meaning first day of winter) is a Cornish festival that
was traditionally celebrated on the night of 31 October, as well as the following day time. One of
the most important parts of this festival was the giving of Allan apples, large glossy red apples
that were highly polished, to family and friends as tokens of good luck. Allan apple markets used
to be held throughout West Cornwall in the run up to the feast. and in the town of St Just it
surpassed Christmas as a time for giving gifts until the late 20th century. A game was also
recorded in which two pieces of wood were nailed together in the shape of a cross. It was then
suspended, with 4 lit candles on each arm and Allan apples suspended underneath. The aim being
to catch the apples with your mouth without getting molten wax on your face. For unmarried
recipients the apples would be placed under their pillows in the hope that they would bring
dreams of their future wife or husband.[6]
Legends, folklore, and traditions
Apples feature frequently in fairy tales. A well-known example is the Brothers Grimm
tale "Snow White", in which Snow White's evil stepmother offers her a poisonous apple which
puts her to sleep. Another evil stepmother maliciously offers her stepchild an apple in another
Brothers Grimm fairy tale, "The Juniper Tree". In Le piacevoli notti (The Facetious Nights) by
Giovanni Francesco Straparola, apples appear in four stories.
Swiss folklore holds that William Tell shot an apple from his son's head with his
crossbow.
Irish folklore claims that if an apple is peeled into one continuous ribbon and thrown
behind a woman's shoulder, it will land in the shape of the future husband's initials.
According to popular legend, upon witnessing an apple fall from its tree, Isaac Newton
was inspired to conclude that a similar 'universal gravitation' attracted the moon toward the
Earth. (This legend is discussed in more detail in the article on Isaac Newton).
In Arthurian legend, the mythical isle of Avalon's name is believed to mean 'isle of
apples'.
In the 19th and early 20th century, and 21st century United States, Denmark and Sweden,
a fresh, polished apple was a traditional children's gift for a teacher.

New York City is often called "The Big Apple." The term "The Big Apple" was coined by
touring jazz musicians and horse racers of the 1920s who used the slang expression "apple" for
any town or city. Therefore, to play New York City is to play the big time - The Big Apple.
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is a popular saying, the apple obviously
symbolizing health, but also the advantages of eating fresh fruit.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_(symbolism)