Great Seal > Peace > The Dove The Dove and Olive Branch as a Symbol of Peace At the time of the American Revolution, the olive branch had a stronger association with peace than did the dove. In fact, a dove was suggested as part of the third committee's design for the Great Seal (May 1782) which specified a natural-colored dove perched on the hand of "the Genius of America." (Shown here is a detail of the actual drawing.) But that dove did not symbolize peace. Instead it was "emblematical of Innocence and Virtue." A dove with an olive branch was the emblem on North Carolina's £2 note (1771). The accompanying motto meant: "Peace restored." It was also on Georgia's $40 note (1778) along with a hand holding a dagger. The motto meant: "Either war or peace, prepared for both." The dove and the olive first appeared together in the biblical story of the Noah and the Ark. But how did this symbolize "peace"? If you'd been on that Ark for nearly a year, and then saw the dove return with an olive leaf, would "peace" be the first word that comes to mind? In this case, "peace" must have a deeper meaning that includes profound emotions such a sight would trigger – forgiveness, gratitude, hope, love – not simply the absence of war (unless you felt at war with God or nature's God). The actual symbol of peace is the olive leaf, not the dove, which brought the leaf back to Noah. Perhaps this is the origin of offering an olive branch to signify peaceful intentions, like in The Aeneid, Virgil's epic poem about the founding of Rome. The olive branch is a dynamic symbol of the human desire for peace, as shown in political drawings before the American Revolution. Olives are naturally associated with peace because, practically speaking, one cannot cultivate an olive grove in a war zone. Many years of peace are necessary to grow olive trees, which take several years to produce their first fruit (and can live for 500 years). Farming itself is a peaceful occupation, but the olive has special qualities that can be associated with peace and harmony: Olives provide oil for lamps, so they bring light. The cleansing power of olive oil brings purification. The hardiness of the olive tree suggests fertility and vital energy. Hercules gained protection by wearing a wreath of olive leaves. Olive wreaths signified victory in the Olympic Games. The mythological origin of the olive tree's association with peace goes back to a contest between Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom*, and Poseidon, the god of the sea. Whoever could produce the gift most useful to mortals would win. Poseidon offered the horse, useful in warfare. Athena's gift was the olive tree, which the gods judged to be the more useful. Athena was awarded the city of Athens. One place where a dove works better than an olive branch is as a weather vane. Made in 1787, George Washington's prized weather vane (right) still sits atop his home Mount Vernon. Shaped as a dove of peace, the bird is 40 inches long with a wingspan of 35 inches. The dove's bill was painted black and the olive branch green. The weather vane is now covered with gold leaf to deter corrosion of its copper body. The white dove is an international symbol of peace, thanks in good part to the fame of Pablo Picasso's 1949 lithograph for the International Peace Congress in Paris. The Great Seal of the United States illustrates a founding principle: "The power of peace" is superior to the power of war. The American Eagle looks toward the olive branch held in its stronger right talon. Detail of the United Seal of America. See visions of peace after the Revolution and visit the Temple of Peace. Check out the great Seals on Indian Peace Medals. Great Seal Symbols | Mottoes History | Myths ©2008 John D. MacArthur