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Today their usage is restricted mainly
to cooking but, in ancient times, herbs
were held in very high regard and
believed by many to possess
supernatural powers.
Here we take a look at how some
of today’s most popular herbs were
revered by the Greeks and Romans.
Basil
Basil gets its name from the Greek for
‘King’. It originated in India and Persia,
and was both prized and despised
by ancient peoples. In spite of its
name, the Greeks hated it.
However, the Romans loved
it and made it a symbol
of love and fertility and
settlers in early America
prized it. Today, Hindus
plant it in their homes to
bring happiness to the family.
Chives
The Romans believed chives could
relieve the pain from sunburn or a
sore throat.
They believed that eating chives would
increase blood pressure and acted as
a diuretic. Romanian Gypsies have
used chives in fortune telling. It was
believed that bunches of dried chives
hung around a house would ward
off disease and evil.
Dill
The word ‘dill’ comes from an old
Norse word meaning ‘to soothe or lull’
due to their belief that the herb had
soothing or sedative qualities. The
Greeks used dill as a remedy for
hiccups and, in the middle ages, it
was used in magic potions, including
a protection against witchcraft.
Parsley
The Greeks used parsley to crown
victors at the Isthmian Games. It was
also a symbol of death and scattered
on tombs. The Romans were the first
to use parsley as food and ate it like
lettuce. They also believed that wearing
parsley as wreaths around the neck
would prevent drunkenness!
Tarragon
It is believed the name tarragon
originates from the French word
‘estragon’ meaning ‘little dragon’
as the roots curl around like a
dragon’s tail. It was used to cure the
bites of dogs and poisonous snakes.
Marjoram
Marjoram is indigenous to the
Mediterranean area and was known
to the Greeks and Romans as a symbol
of happiness. Sicilians also held the
belief that marjoram had the power
to banish sorrow. In the isle of Crete,
marjoram was once a symbol of honour
worn by its leaders. In the Middle Ages,
marjoram was used to preserve and
disinfect meat that was less than fresh.
Oregano
The word oregano means ‘joy of the
mountains’ in Greek. It grew prolifically
on the Greek hillsides and was
encouraged because it was believed
to make the meat from the grazing
goats and sheep more tender and
tastier. It was believed that the Greek
God Venus created the plants and
gave them their wonderful sweet
flavour and scent. Hippocrates, the
father of medicine, used oregano as an
antiseptic as well as a cure for stomach
and respiratory ailments.
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