Dove of Peace key chain

Doves, usually white in colour, are used in a variety of settings as symbols of love, peace or as messengers. Doves appear in the symbolism of Judaism, Christianity and Paganism. In Christianity the use of a dove and olive branch as a symbol of peace originated with the early Christians, who portrayed the act of baptism accompanied by a dove holding an olive branch in its beak and also used the image on their sepulchres. Christians derived the symbol of the dove and olive branch from Greek thought, including its use of the symbol of the olive branch, and the story of Noah and the Flood. In Christian Iconography, a dove also symbolises the Holy Spirit, in reference to Matthew 3:16 and Luke 3:22 where the Holy Spirit is compared to a dove at the Baptism of Jesus. In the earliest Christian art, the dove represented the peace of the soul rather than civil peace In Paganism the goddesses Atargatis, Ishtar, Inanna, Astarte and Aphrodite are all depicted with doves. The legendary queen Semiramis was raised by doves, connecting her to the goddesses. In the Epic of Gilgamesh the dove was released to search for the end of the deluge. In Judaism, according to the biblical story, a dove was released by Noah after the flood in order to find land; it came back carrying a freshly plucked olive leaf a sign of life after the Flood and of God's bringing Noah, his family and the animals to land. Finish: Gold tone / Enamel colors