On 6 January 1653, Queen Christina of Sweden instituted the Order of Amaranta, a brotherhood founded with the aim of reviving the celebrations of the building, whose decoration in diamonds led, in Latin and Italian, the motto of Petrarch: "Memoria Dulcis/Dolce nella memoria" (sweet in memory). The Order had as its emblem an evergreen garland (the flower of amaranth, from greek αμαραντος "that lasts forever"), symbol of eternal life. For the ancient Greeks, the leaves Amaranta grew in Colchis, beyond the shores of the Black Sea.
But what if Cristina had chosen as the emblem the cypress (symbol of eternal life after death) or the snowdrop (Galanthus, symbol of life and hope)?
But what if Cristina had chosen as the emblem the cypress (symbol of eternal life after death) or the snowdrop (Galanthus, symbol of life and hope)?