The apple is present in many different traditions and appears in mythology and cosmogonies of different cultures around the globe. The apple is the fruit that the serpent offered to Eve in the garden of Eden, marking the beginning of men's fall in the physical world. It was a poisoned apple that condemned Snow White to a profound coma in the famous fairytale, and also, the fruit that originated the Trojan war in Greek mythology. But why an apple?
The Symbolism of the Apple
The shape and size of the apple, as well as its beautiful red color, resembles a human heart. In many different myths, the apple symbolizes the heart and sentiments related to universal love. Some religious traditions consider that humans, who were once immortal and enjoyed the glory of the eternal life, became mortal and sinful when they infringed upon the most important rules of all – destroying the heart to the detriment of desire and lower passions.
The Forbidden Fruit
Although there are controversies about the forbidden fruit of the garden of Eden (some say the fruit was never an apple but a grape, others say it was a peach, and others say it was a fig), this problem is irrelevant as the forbidden fruit was transformed into an apple for its symbolic message.
According to Christian theology, Adam and Eve were made immortal and pure, and lived happily in the paradise which was made for them. Nothing could go wrong, except for a serpent which had something very tempting to offer – a delicious apple from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
When Eve ate the apple, she and Adam were banned from their heavenly garden in order to fall into the manifested world and through their own choices and free will, learn the difference between right and wrong, and finally earn the right to return to their paradise when all lessons are learned.
So the apple, that is, the heart, is the instrument through which humans can develop true virtues and attain the deserved perfection and immortality.
Snow White and the Poisoned Apple
It is interesting to notice how the symbolism of the forbidden fruit is repeated in the beautiful story of Snow White. Just like Eve falls into the physical world, forgetting who she really is, Snow White also falls into profound coma after eating the poisoned apple offered by the queen, who symbolizes the serpent. The coma represents the forgetfulness – men forget their divine origins when they are born in the material world.
So, even though the apple appears to be the "evil" temptation that will lead people to forgetfulness and exile, this is the only way through which people can attain real virtues, since virtues have to be a result of free will and conscious choices, and no one can make conscious choices without facing the opportunity to choose between good and evil.
In Snow White's story, the queen says that by eating the apple, Snow White will make her dreams come true, and although the witch's intention was to kill the poor lady, she needed to die so that her beloved prince could come and rescue her, and only then she would know true love. The witch was not so wrong after all.
The Golden Apple – the Apple of Discord
In Greek mythology, when goddess Eris found out she had not been invited to a party, she threw a golden apple in the place where all guests were having a banquet. The beautiful apple made of gold said "to the fairest" (or, to the most beautiful). Goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite claimed the apple, as each of them believed to be the prettiest .
Zeus, in order to put an end to the conflict between the goddesses, decided that Paris, a human (!), would decide who deserved the apple. Then, the three goddesses appeared to Paris and each of them tried to persuade him. Aphrodite, however, made the best offer. She promised him that he would marry the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen, who was already married to Menelau.
So, Helen and Paris ran away together to Troy. This triggered the Trojan war, since Menelau, of course, wanted his wife back and attacked Troy in order to bring her home. And it all started with an apple.
Symbolically, this myth represents the fall into disgrace when one is driven by lower passions – Paris was driven by desire when he chose Aphrodite's offer. Aphrodite was driven by vanity when she wanted to prove she was the most beautiful goddess. The war represents the inner war that all humans go through in order to discover the difference between right and wrong, good and evil.
Eating the forbidden fruit means to destroy the heart in order to obey to the calling of the lower passions, but nevertheless, this is the only way to achieve real virtues. Fortunately, in all myths, when the lessons are learned, humans can go back to their heavenly home, Snow White is awaken by her beloved prince, and Menelau recovers his beautiful wife – it was all planned from the beginning.
Articles About Symbols and Their Meanings
Whether you are looking for tattoo design ideas or you simply want to discover the beautiful philosophical messages behind the symbols, these articles might be of interest:
- The Philosophy Behind Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,
- Meaning and Symbolism of the Peacock
- Egyptian Tattoo Designs, Meaning of the Egyptian Symbols
- Buddhist Tattoo Designs, Meaning of the Buddhist Symbols
- Ancient Symbols, Deciphering the Universal Language, and;
- Meaning and Symbolism of the Sun.
Sources and resources:
Chevalier, Jean and Gheerbrant, Alain. Dictonaire des Symboles. Ed. Robert Laffont S.A, Paris 1982.
Zimmerman, John Edward. The Dictionary of Classical Mythology. Bantham, 1983.
L.H.G. DVD; Walt Disney, um Contador de Velhas Histórias. Nova Acrópole, 2008
Join the Conversation