DID YOU KNOW? The Hyacinth dates back to ancient antiquity

Do you know the long and colorful history of the hyacinth flower?

BACKGROUND: The fact that the hyacinth is one of my favorite flowers has nothing to do with it being a flower. I love British comedy TV shows. There is one show called “Keeping Up Appearances” and the name of the main character is Hyacinth. The lady who plays the part is Patricia Routledge or should I say Dame Katherine Patricia Routledge, DBE. Evidently, she is a well-known comedic entertainer in the UK. I only know her from this television series and she is flipping hilarious! Because of her, the flower hyacinth was added to my list of favorite flowers.

According to the Britannica Encyclopedia, this flower is native primarily to the Mediterranean region and tropical Africa. According to an article published via Old House Gardens, the hyacinth dates back to ancient antiquity and has made its way through gardens in ancient Greece and Rome, into the Ottoman Empire, and eventually into Western Europe. Here is an interesting fact gleaned from that article:

• “There is convincing evidence that the hyacinth was cultivated by the Turks for both its fragrance and for ceremonial usage. On the death of Sultan Moerad III in 1595 his mourning son had no fewer than half a million hyacinths planted.”

I was required to learn the history of Western Europe in Catholic high school. But not much was ever taught about the Ottomans other than the fact they existed.

One must be careful because the hyacinth bulbs are poisonous. They contain oxalic acid so you should handle them wearing protective gloves. The uncooked seeds are poisonous, however, the beans of these plants can be used in cooking. They can be boiled or roasted and you can find many Indian food recipes that use hyacinth beans. (Recipes.)

As you can see by the featured image they are a marvelous ornamental flower. But they also have proven medicinal value. In addition to being used for beauty ~ skincare and hair care ~ it has been used to treat cholera, snake bites, and even STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). In traditional Chinese medicine, the beans are used to keep the spleen healthy.

There is a sad story in Greek mythology about a young man named Hyakinthos or Hyacinthus. That’s how the flower got its name.

As for its symbolism, it has come to “represent prayers, thoughtfulness, messages of hope and well-being”.

Interesting flower. Don’t you think so?

♦ References:

Doerflinger, Frederick. “The Hyacinth Story.” Hyacinth History, Old House Gardens, 1989, oldhousegardens.com/HyacinthHistory. “from Adsurgens, the journal of Wycliffe Hall Botanical Gardens, 1989”

Gayatri. “11 Amazing Benefits Of Hyacinth Herb For Skin, Hair And Health.” STYLECRAZE, IncNut Digital, 6 June 2019, stylecraze.com/articles/benefits-of-hyacinth-herb-for-skin-hair-and-health/.

♦♦♦ SIDENOTE: Some say the expression “ancient antiquity” is redundant. I beg to differ. The term “Antiquity” was first used by Renaissance writers to distinguish between the Middle Ages, the more recent times, and Antiquity. “Classical Antiquity” is the term used to describe the civilizations of both Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. (SOURCE)

Thanks for reading.

If You Liked This, You Might Also Like: