Article

The identification of plants mentioned in classical Greek and Roman literature was performed mainly during the 19th century. Plants depicted on sculptures, vases or coins received attention much later. This paper is exclusively devoted to plants depicted on Greek vases of the classical period, mainly trees and shrubs. Some of the depicted plants can be recognised without difficulty, but for others, archaeological and mythological knowledge must support identification. The grape vine is easily recognised by its typical leaf shape and the grapes, the palm tree by its characteristic growth, whereas myrtle, olive and laurel, the leaves of which as depicted are often more or less identical, can usually be identified by their known association with a particular deity or hero. Such traditional connections, in Greek mythology, between a god or hero and a particular plant dedicated to him, especially trees and shrubs, are well known. They are illustrated here by the representations of about 18 vases.