The History of Garlic
by About garlic through the ages, as food, medicine, and a talisman to ward off evil spirits. It was even used as a secret weapon by the Greeks and Romans.
Garlic is native to Central Asia and its use by mankind dates back over 6000 years. The name that we know it by comes from the Old English “garleac” that means “spear leek.” Has long been a staple food in the Mediterranean region as well as Europe, Asia and Africa.
The Egyptians actually worshiped garlic and placed clay models of garlic in Tutankhamen’s tomb for food in the afterlife. There is evidence that the builders of the Egyptian Pyramids ate garlic as part of their diet. At other times Garlic was so highly prized that it was actually used as money. Folklore even claimed that garlic drove away vampires and werewolves. At other times it was used to ward off the Evil Eye. Another old wives tale was that it warded of jealous nymphs that were said to terrorize pregnant women and newly engaged girls. It has been noted down through the millennia that it possesses very strong aphrodisiacal powers.
3200 years ago the ancient Egyptians already recommended garlic to treat 22 different conditions including lack of stamina, heart disease and tumors. It as even been said that they fed it to the builders of the Pyramids to give them added strength. Even the Egyptian pharaohs held garlic in high esteem taking clay models of the garlic bulb into their tombs to providing food for their afterlife.
The Greeks and Romans also held the plant in high esteem where to go in a variety of uses where it was used to retell scorpions, treat dogbites, bladder infections and even to give courage to their troops going into battle. They also fed garlic to the troops just before battle in the hopes that their breath would slay the enemy. Good lord, speak of Dragon’s breath.
During the Middle Ages it was thought to repel vampires and werewolves, and was even used to treat the plague. At other times it was used to repel evil spirits by placing a braded Garland of garlic or crossed one’s door. In modern times it is even been effective for the prevention of goodnight kisses.
Because of the stench at left behind it was shunned in both Britain and the United States for many years. And then when it was thought to be unfit for ladies and the gentleman who came to court them. In the United States it was avoided until the mid-20th century when enough immigrants had arrived from southern Europe who brought the use of garlic with them. Eventually garlic found its way into the mainstream of American cooking.
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