Fig Fruit Symbolism Facts & Literature: Astrology, Omens, Dreams, and Legends
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Fig Fruit Symbolism & Meaning
The fig fruit is one of the oldest cultivated fruits resulting in centuries of symbolic meaning and association with many deities throughout different cultures.
From ancient times to the present day, figs have been associated with both male and female fertility. Its white flesh is believed to be a representation of the mother’s milk and male sperm.
Naturally, this symbolism gave way to associating figs with passion and sexuality, with many cultures giving the fruit aphrodisiac properties.
The fig is seen as a sacred fruit representing spirituality, enlightenment, knowledge, and wisdom throughout different religions. It is also a symbol of rebirth, growth, and transformation as a result of its association with deities like Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture, and Dionysus, the Greek god of wine.
This ancient fruit is also a symbol of wealth and the aristocracy, being highly coveted by ancient royalty, and being a desirable part of their diet.
A more modern symbol of the fig fruit is nutrition, health, and well-being because of its many scientifically proven health benefits.
Valley Fig Growers is a corporation of fig growers based in California that sells dried figs under the brand Orchard’s Choice. Established in 1959, their emblem is a collared illustration of a purple fig.
Fig Tree & Co. is a family-owned producer of quilt designs, sewing patterns, and thematic booklets established in 2004 in San Francisco. Their icon is a simple brown fig hanging off a branch.
Me Time Away Travel Company focuses on providing sustainable wellness travel trips and retreats for their clients with destinations across Europe. Their icon is a lineart illustration of a halved fig fruit.
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Fig Fruit Positive & Negative Symbolism
The fig fruit is steeped with many positive symbols such as wealth, abundance, fertility, knowledge, and transformation. However, some of these positive symbolism of the fig can also turn negative, such as the belief that figs can also take away one’s fertility.
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Fig Fruit Origin
The origins of the fig fruit are commonly agreed to have started in the regions from Asiatic Turkey to Northern India. Throughout the centuries, the fruit evolved along with humans with archeological evidence showing the oldest cultivated fig fruits to be as old as 9400-9200 BC.
The fig fruit was spread in nearby regions throughout man’s history with notable historical figures making records of the fruit such as Aristotle and Cato the Elder. Cleopatra and Cyrus the Great were recorded to be very fond of figs.
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Fig Fruit Cultural Symbolism
The fig fruit and its tree are regarded as sacred in the Hebrew and Christian bible, full of symbolism and meaning. It was theorized that figs were the original forbidden fruit plucked from the tree of knowledge.
Likewise in Islam, figs are highly regarded to be a holy fruit with chapter 59 of the Qu’ran titled at-Tin, which translates to “The Fig.”
Buddha, the founder of Buddhism was storied to reach enlightenment when meditating under a sacred species of the fig tree, the Bodhi tree. Many species of the fig tree are considered sacred in India.
Moroccan weddings have a tradition of throwing figs and raisins to symbolize a fruitful relationship between the newlyweds.
In Ancient Egypt, the fig tree is known as the Tree of Life and is associated with several Egyptian deities such as Hathor, Nut, and Isis. Tombs of Egyptian pharaohs were also discovered containing dried figs.
In the Mediterranean, figs are used in traditional folk medicine to combat parasites, warts, and calluses. Likewise in the USA, a tonic known as syrup of figs is a popular laxative used since the 1800s.
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Fig Fruit in Art and Literature
The influential baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens created the oil painting depicting Romulus and Remus being cared for by the she-wolf under a fig tree from 1615-1616.
The Flemish artist, Clara Peeters, known for her still life paintings created a still life of a table sitting with dry figs, nuts, and flowers in 1611.
Pierre Bonnard, the post-impressionist French painter and illustrator painted A Plate of Figs in 1921 in his signature bold and colorful style.
Another Flemish artist, Abraham Janssens, made an oil painting titled, Lascivia in 1650, depicting a woman half nude looking into a mirror with a plate of figs on her table.
In literature, figs are pondered upon in an allegory of life’s possibilities by Esther, the main character of the classic novel The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.
Children’s book author Ori Elon released A Basket Full of Figs in 2019. Illustrated by Menahem Halberstadt, the book tells the story of Emperor Hadrian and the old man who planted a fig tree for the next generation.
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Fig Favorite Fruit: Traits and Personality
If the fig fruit is your favorite fruit, this could indicate that you have personality traits that can be described as agreeable, sweet, and selfless. You are someone who others will feel comfortable to be around and is reliable in being a good friend and family.
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Fig Fruit in Astrology or Zodiac
Fig fruits are most connected to those born under the zodiac sign Cancer. Like the fig’s symbolism of fertility and abundance, Cancers are natural nurturers who thrive in fostering family relations and homemaking.
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Fig Fruit in Dreams
Dreams of the fig fruit, in any form, mean blessings and fortune are to come. Fig dreams are considered to be positive signs of coming abundance and prosperity.
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Fig Fruit Omens and Superstitions
In several cultures, harming the sacred fig trees will bring misfortune to the perpetrator in the form of harm or infertility, blindness, or death of a family member.
The fig sign is seen as a crass sign that is said to represent the female genitals, named such because the fig fruit was symbolically associated with female genitals. According to superstition, using this sign can ward off the evil eye and can grant protection from bad energy.
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Fig Fruit Legends, Mythology, and Folklore
The mythical founders of Rome, Remus and Romulus, were storied to be found suckling the she-wolf under a fig tree.
Many Indian myths and legends feature the fig tree. An Indian creation myth tells the story of the goddess Nirantali creating people’s tongues out of fig leaves and the wood of the fig tree provided the newly created humans their shelter.