Gladiolus - the flower of gladiators, the king of victory!

Gladiolus bloom in late summer in my village in Ukraine and cause a little nostalgia in my soul. Another summer has passed, I spent it with my father, who was left alone after his mother's death and a severe winter ahead. He will live alone in an old house and will again count the days before meeting his beloved wife ... For us people it is sad, it is unreal, we do not want to think and believe in death. And the flowers? Their lives are so beautiful and short. But they fill our lives with beauty.
It's just unbelievable that nature can paint flowers like that ...

Traditionally, gladiolus is a male flower reminiscent of chivalry, a true "King of Victory".
I love reading legends about flowers, it fills them with beautiful unique content. Turns out gladiolus is a sword flower, a gladiator flower.
Ancient Roman legend says that if gladiolus roots are hung on the chest like amulets, they will help to win the fight and protect from death.

There is such a very sad legend:
A cruel Roman general captured the Thracian warriors and ordered them to be turned into gladiators. The commander ordered the most courageous, agile, beautiful and faithful friends Sevt and Teres to be the first to fight with each other, promising the winner freedom and the hand of his daughter.
Curious people came to the battlefield. The trumpets sounded, calling the brave to battle, but Seuthes and Teres thrust their swords into the ground and rushed to each other with open arms.
The audience roared indignantly. The trumpets sounded again, demanding a fight, and when the young men again refused the request of the bloodthirsty Romans, they were put to death. But as soon as the bodies of the defeated touched the ground, gladiolus blossomed from the hilts of their swords, which are still considered a symbol of friendship, loyalty, memory and nobility.

Thanks for reading.