Wreath
Wreath (שֹבָכָה, sebekdh, a net-work or lattice [as often rendered], i.e., balustrade, 2Ki 25:17;-2Ch 4:12-13; but perhaps really a festoon or checkerwork, as גַּדַיל, gedil, 1Ki 7:17 ["fringe," i.e., tassel, De 22:30 certainly means). Garlands in ancient times were chiefly made of green leaves or twigs (Wisd. 2:18), which, among the ancient Israelites, likewise were symbols of joy (3 Macc. 7:16). Accordingly, victorious chieftains and warriors were crowned with such wreaths (Jg 3; Jg 8; comp. Herod. 1:7, 11), and they were sometimes strewn in their path (Sueton. Ner. 25; Livy, 33:33; Curtius, 9:10, 25). Guests were adorned with them (see Heindorf, Ioraat. Satir. [2:3], page 256) at feasts (3 Macc. 4:8; comp. Athen. 15:674); and on gala occasions dwellings and sacred objects were decked with them (1 Macc. 4:57; Let. of Jeremiah 9 [in the Apocr. Greek]; see Voss, Virg. Georg. page 826; Orelli, Arnob. 2:43), as likewise sacrificial victims (Herod. 4:11, 3) and altars (Ac 14:13; comp. Herod. 2:45; Strabo, 15:732; Pliny, 16:4; Ovid, Met. 5:366; see Tzetzes, Lycoph. page 327; Wetstein, N.T. 2:543; Doughtaei Anal. 2:81; Perezon. AElian. V.H. 3:3); and finally the worshippers themselves (Herod. 1:132; Athen. 15:674; Lucian, De dea. Syr. 46; Tibull. 1:10, 28; 2:2, 16; Apollon. Rhod. 2:159; see Bahr, Symbol. 2:252). See Stuck, Antiq. Conviv. page 368 sq.; Dieteric and Nikolai, in Ugolini Thesaur. 30. SEE CROWN.
