House of York basis. Edward Plantagenet became Edward IV in 1461, thus merging the title of Duke of York with the crown. The most popular symbol of the house of York was the White Rose of York. The Yorkist rose is white in colour, because in Christian liturgical symbolism, white is the symbol of light, typifying innocence and purity, joy and glory. During the civil wars of the fifteenth century, the White Rose was the symbol of Yorkist forces opposed to the rival House of Lancaster. The red rose of Lancaster would be a later invention used to represent the House of Lancaster,
The Dithyramb of the Rose of the chorus and other persons outside the chorus) that evolves into a tragedy, more than a tragedy (with distinct principles and structure) itself. Sikelianos, influenced by the Orphic theology and its founder and leader, Orpheus, places him as Hierophant – officiant in the myth, with clear references to Dionysus. As scholars have said, the individual symbols (besides Orpheus-Dionysus) of ear of grain (symbolizing the earth), the vine (symbolizing the intoxication of love) and, especially the rose (symbol of life embedded in love) that are eminent in the play are allegorically bound with the tragedy itself (these symbols do not