Anarchic and ancient the black rose struggles to grow in one place in this world.
That place is a tiny Turkish village of Halfeti which has an ancient and fascinating history. Legends around the region associate it with biblical fame and endless wars, as this article explains:
https://www.dailysabah.com/feature/2015/07/24/the-black-rose-of-halfeti
Considered to be symbols of mystery, hope and passion, also death and bad news, the black roses of Halfeti are an endangered species. They have been under threat of extinction ever since the village moved from ‘old Halfeti’ in the 1990s, when the Birecik Dam was constructed.
Old Halfeti was among several villages lost and submerged under the waters of the Euphrates which flooded the area.
However, parts of the old town, slowly decaying, can still be seen rising from the swollen Euphrates river:
Although these roses appear perfectly black, they are actually a very deep crimson or maroon, thanks to the unique soil conditions of the region and the pH levels of the groundwater seeping from the river Euphrates.
They bloom dark red during the spring and deepen to black during the summer months.
The symbolism of the Black Rose has been associated with the anarchic writings and lectures of a small group of people, one whom was Noam Chomsky.
http://blackrosebooks.net/about
https://chomsky.info/197401__/
Thanks to Thin Lizzie, the legend and historical mystery of the black rose and its home on the banks of the Euphrates will not be forgotten and may inspire us to visit when the stress of war has passed.