Ancient Herbs

by Marina Heilmeyer

• ISBN13: 9780892368846
• ISBN10: 0892368845
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-03-26
• Publisher: J Paul Getty Museum Pubns

Summary

The forty plants in this book present both herbs and other plants that were important for culinary, medicinal, and cult purposes in classical antiquity. Thus olive and pomegranate, myrtle and rose join coriander and marjoram, garlic and thyme. In the introduction, the author draws on her extensive knowledge of ancient practices to paint an intriguing image of the uses of and myths about plants from Greek and particularly Roman kitchen gardens. Quotes from classical authors testify to ancient practices, some curious, some still standard today. The delightful illustrations reproduce drawings from early nineteenth-century botanical publications, which often show the plants at various stages of growth, from seeds through ripe fruits.

Author Biography

Marina Heilmeyer has long been associated with the Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum in Berlin. She has organized several garden-related exhibitions and is the author of a number of books on flowers and fruits.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
Ancient Herbs
Absinthe: Artemisia absinthium	p. 18
Anise: Pimpinella anisum	p. 20
Asaferida: Ferula assa-foetida	p. 22
Basil: Ocimum basilicum	p. 24
Bay Laurel: Laurus nobilis	p. 26
Bee Balm: Melissa officinalis	p. 28
Caraway: Carum carvi	p. 30
Celery: Apium graveolens	p. 32
Chamomile: Chamaemelum nobile = Anthemis nobilis	p. 34
Chicory: Cichorium intybus	p. 36
Clover: Melilotus officinalis	p. 38
Coriander: Coriandrum sativum	p. 40
Cretan Dittany: Origanum dictamnus	p. 42
Cumin: Cuminum cyminum	p. 44
Dill and Fennel: Anethum graveolens and Foeniculum vulgare	p. 46
Elecampane: Inula helenium	p. 48
Fenugreek: Trigonella foenum-graecum	p. 50
Garlic and Onion: Allium sativum and Allium cepa	p. 52
Hollyhock: Alcea rosea	p. 54
Horehound: Marrubium vulgare	p. 56
Hyssop: Hysoppus officinalis	p. 58
Iris: Iris x germanica var. florentina	p. 60
Juniper: Juniperus communis	p. 62
Lovage: Levisticum officinale	p. 64
Marjoram: Origanum majorana	p. 66
Mugwort: Artemisia vulgaris	p. 68
Mustard: Sinapis alba	p. 70
Myrtle: Myrtus communis	p. 72
Olive: Olea europaea	p. 74
Parsley: Petrosdinum crispum	p. 76
Pennyroyal: Mentha pulegium	p. 78
Pomegranate: Punica granatum	p. 80
Poppy: Papaver somniferum	p. 82
Rose: Rosa gallica	p. 84
Rosemary: Rosmarinus officinalis	p. 86
Rue: Ruta graveolens	p. 88
Sage: Salvia officinalis	p. 90
Spearmint: Mentha spicata	p. 92
St.-John's-wort: Hypericum perforatum	p. 94
Thyme: Thymus vulgaris and Thymus serpyllum	p. 96
Acknowledgments	p. 98
A Note on Illustrations	p. 99
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 100
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