10 Basic Foods That Were Once Believed To Be Magic

10種曾一度被認(rèn)為有魔力的主要食物

HALSEY IRIS SEPTEMBER 3, 2018
Food is where we get the nutrients to fuel our bodies. We create and preserve intimate social relationships by breaking bread, and we often heal different ailments through our diets. In the developed world, we have shopping centers filled with all types of foods, and we mostly partake without a thought about the history of what we’re eating.But thousands of years ago in some of the earliest civilizations on the planet, these basic foods were believed to be a sort of magic. At one time, they were worshiped and revered. Besides being used to heal specific physical and emotional conditions, certain foods were believed to bring loved ones back from the dead, protect people from evil, and more.

我們通過食物獲取營養(yǎng)，它可以為我們的身體提供能量。 我們通過掰面包來創(chuàng)造和保持親密的社會關(guān)系，我們經(jīng)常通過飲食來治療不同的疾病。 在發(fā)達國家，我們充斥著各種各樣食物的購物中心，而且我們大多數(shù)時候都沒有思考過我們吃什么的歷史，但是幾千年前，在地球上最早的文明中，這些基本的食物被認(rèn)為是一種魔法，一度受到人們的崇拜和尊敬，除了用來治療特定的身體、情感狀況，某些食物被認(rèn)為可以讓所愛的人起死回生，保護人們遠(yuǎn)離邪惡，等等。

10 Amaranth
We are probably all familiar with ancient grains. Whether we incorporate quinoa into our daily diets or see different varieties gracing the feeds of Instagram in the all-too-trendy smoothie bowls, we could each name a few if we had to.But one ancient grain was thought to provide supernatural powers by the Aztecs over 500 years ago. Not only was it a major component of their diets, but it played a vital role in their religious practices.Using honey and sometimes blood from human sacrifices, the Aztecs would often make a paste from the grains and use it to create statues of their gods. During ceremonies of worship, the statues would be broken into parts and passed out to members of the tribe for consumption. Supposedly, this paste was also used to create shields, bows, and arrows to give to newborn boys to symbolize their manly duties later in life. When the Spanish invaded in 1519, the cultivation of this grain was forbidden along with the Aztecs’ religion. This was a way of forcing Christianity onto the civilization, and anyone who did not abide by the rules was punished severely.[1]

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10、莧屬植物
一種我們可能都熟悉古老的作物，無論我們是否將藜麥納入日常飲食中，還是看到 Instagram上的不同品種的莧屬植物加入到非常時尚冰沙碗中，如果有必要的話，我們每個人都可以說出幾個例子，但500多年前，阿茲臺克人認(rèn)為一種古老的食物有超自然的力量，這不僅是他們飲食的一個重要組成部分，而且在他們的宗教活動中也扮演著重要的角色。阿茲特克人經(jīng)常蜂蜜，有時甚至用人類祭祀所得的鮮血，將其做成糊狀物，用它來制作他們的神的雕像。在祭祀儀式中，雕像會被分割成幾個部分，然后分給部落成員食用。據(jù)說，這種糊狀物也被用來制造盾牌、弓箭，送給新生的男孩，以象征他們以后的男子漢的職責(zé)。1519年西班牙入侵時，莧屬植物的種植與阿茲臺克人的宗教一樣被禁止，這是迫使他們以基督教的教化進入文明社會的一種方式，任何不遵守規(guī)則的人都會受到嚴(yán)厲的懲罰。

9 Artichokes
Before we learned to dip these beauties in cheese sauce, artichokes were thought to have a variety of medicinal powers. We can find mention of artichokes as far back as Greek mythology.Cynara was a beautiful mortal girl whom Zeus came across during a trip to see his brother Poseidon. Zeus took her to Olympus and made her a goddess. Then in typical Zeus fashion, he became enraged when Cynara sneaked home for a weekend visit with her mother. He threw her off Olympus and turned her into an artichoke.Fast-forward to the first-century Romans, and they believed that parts of the artichoke could help to cure baldness and even aid with the conception of boys.Artichokes were also rumored to be an aphrodisiac. This gossip was given a lot of steam when the French queen, Catherine de Medici, was said to have consumed a great quantity of them. At this time, women were banned from eating artichokes.[2]

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9、洋薊
在我們學(xué)會用奶酪醬蘸醬之前，人們認(rèn)為洋薊具有多種藥用功效。我們可以在古希臘神話中找到洋薊，辛娜拉是一個美麗的凡人女孩，宙斯在一次去見弟弟波塞冬的旅途中偶然遇到了她，宙斯把她帶到了奧林匹斯山，把她變成了女神。然后是一個典型的宙斯風(fēng)格的故事，辛娜拉偷偷摸摸回家去找她的母親，他很憤怒，他把她扔出奧林巴斯，把她變成了一棵洋薊。
快進到公元一世紀(jì)的羅馬，他們相信洋薊的一部分可以幫助治療禿頂，甚至有助于男性功能，還有傳言說，洋薊也是一種春藥，法國女王凱瑟琳·德·美第奇食用了大量洋薊，外界出現(xiàn)了流言蜚語，這種流言蜚語給其造成很大的壓力，在那個時代，婦女被禁止食用洋薊。

8 Chives
Today, we know that chives are native to certain areas of Asia, Europe, and North America. However, there are at least two different stories about their first appearance in Europe and how they were once believed to be magic.In one version, chives first appeared in Europe in the 13th century when Marco Polo brought them over from China. From there, the British created a tradition that hanging chives from the rafters and above doorways would provide protection against evil spirits. However, a conflicting story says that chives were in Europe before Marco Polo. In this version, the ancient Romans used chives in their diets because they believed that the plant’s strong taste would bring greater strength. Racehorses, workers, and wrestlers ate chives regularly to enhance their strength. Chives were also a Roman remedy for sore throats and sunburns.[3]

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8、韭菜
今天，我們知道韭菜原產(chǎn)于亞洲、歐洲和北美的某些地區(qū)。然而，至少有兩種不同的說法，講述了韭菜是如何首次出現(xiàn)在歐洲，以及它們曾經(jīng)被認(rèn)為是有魔力的，其中一種版本是13世紀(jì)馬可波羅從中國把韭菜帶到歐洲時首次出現(xiàn)在歐洲。從那時起，英國人創(chuàng)造了一種傳統(tǒng)，那就是把韭菜掛在房頂和門廊上，以保護人們不受邪靈的侵害。然而，一個相互矛盾的故事說，韭菜在馬可波羅之前在歐洲，在這個版本中，古羅馬人在他們的飲食中使用韭菜，因為他們相信這種植物的強烈味道會帶來更大的力量，賽馬者，工人和摔跤手經(jīng)常吃韭菜，以增強他們的力量，韭菜也是羅馬人治喉嚨痛和曬傷的良藥。

7 Cucumbers
Today, one of the most notable varieties of this refreshing vegetable is the English cucumber. However, they actually originated in India and have been grown for approximately 3,000 years.One of the most unexpected uses of cucumbers goes all the way back to the Roman Empire. According to Pliny the Elder, these vegetables were used to promote fertility. Women would wear them around their waists, and midwives would carry them around and then dispose of them once a child was born.[4]In ancient Rome, cucumbers were also used to scare away mice, cure bad eyesight, and soothe scorpion bites.

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7、黃瓜
今天，這種令人耳目一新的蔬菜最著名的品種之一是英國黃瓜（ English cucumber），然而，黃瓜實際上起源于印度，已經(jīng)種植了大約3000年。黃瓜最意想不到的用途之一可以追溯到羅馬帝國時期，根據(jù)老普林尼的說法，這種蔬菜是用來提高生育力的，婦女會把它們戴在腰間，助產(chǎn)士會隨身攜帶，然后在孩子出生后處理掉，在古羅馬，黃瓜也被用來嚇跑老鼠、治療視力不良和緩解蝎子叮咬癥狀。

6 Onions
This seemingly ordinary piece of produce was once anything but. Long before onions were bringing us to tears, they were objects of worship. In fact, onions are found throughout historical Egyptian art in a variety of shapes and sizes. These vegetables are painted into scenes of pyramids and the altars of certain gods.The Egyptians related onions to eternal life due to their concentric layers and would bury their pharaohs with them. Onions have also been found in various body parts of mummies, such as the thorax and the pelvis.So, why was the onion such a revered food to the Egyptians, especially when exploring the theme of death?According to experts, it was a common belief that these beautiful bulbs could bring breath back to the deceased. Others say that the antiseptic properties may have been thought to be magical and therefore useful in the afterlife.[5]

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6、洋蔥
這種看似普通的食物曾經(jīng)可是絕不平凡。早在洋蔥讓我們流淚之前，它們就是祭祀的對象。事實上，在埃及的歷史藝術(shù)中，洋蔥的形狀和大小各不相同，這些蔬菜被描繪進金字塔和某些神的祭壇的場景，埃及人將洋蔥與永生聯(lián)系在一起，因為它們有著同心的層次，并將他們的法老與他們葬在一起，在木乃伊的不同部位，比如胸部和骨盆，也發(fā)現(xiàn)了洋蔥。那么，為什么洋蔥對埃及人來說是一種受人尊敬的食物，尤其是在探索死亡主題的時候？根據(jù)專家們的說法，人們普遍認(rèn)為，這些美麗的球莖食物可以為死者帶來呼吸，還有人說，其防腐能力可能被認(rèn)為是魔力的，因此在來世是有用的。

5 Apples
An apple a day keeps the doctor away—or so “they” say.The belief that apples can cure all diseases or at least keep you healthier has been around for centuries. In fact, it is a common thread connecting multiple cultures.But the apple is more than just a healer; it is a symbol that appears in folklore all the way back to Greek mythology. According to Irish folklore, heroes would eat apples to stay young and strong. In historical Chinese culture, the apple was given as a gift of peace.[6]The apple also represents love. The Balkans believed that when a woman accepted an apple from a man, she was engaged to him. In some Italian cultures, when a man was in love with a woman, he would present her with an apple to show and solidify his affection for her.

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5、蘋果
一日一蘋果，醫(yī)生遠(yuǎn)離我——至少“ 他們”是這么說的。幾個世紀(jì)以來，人們一直認(rèn)為蘋果可以治愈所有疾病，或者至少能讓你更健康。事實上，它是連接多種文化的共同線索，但蘋果不僅僅是一個治療者，它更是一種象征，它一直出現(xiàn)在民間傳說中，希臘神話里，根據(jù)愛爾蘭民間傳說，英雄們會吃蘋果來保持年輕和強壯。
在中國歷史文化中，蘋果是被賦予了和平涵義的禮物，蘋果也代表著愛，巴爾干人相信，當(dāng)一個女人接受了一個男人的蘋果，她就和他訂婚了。在一些意大利文化中，當(dāng)一個男人愛上一個女人，他會給她一個蘋果，以表示和鞏固他對她的愛。

4 Corn
Today, corn is used for more than we even realize. Whether it is the buttery, fluffy movie snack or feed for countless types of livestock, corn is everywhere.To the Aztecs, corn (or maize) was more than just a food source. They believed that the growth and harvest process was synced with the cycle of life: birth, regeneration, and death. They even had three female deities of maize to represent each cycle, and they were worshiped and thanked heavily throughout the cycle of the crop.The deity Xilonen, representing the first or earliest crop of the summer, was worshiped with an elaborate festival. A young female slave was made to dress up as Xilonen during the eight days leading up to the festival. Men and women would dance, and the people were fed maize-focused foods.On the last night of celebrations, the Xilonen impersonator was sacrificed as a way to show gratitude to Mother Earth for the life-sustaining crop and to ensure that the cycle of crops and life would keep coexisting harmoniously.[7]?

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4、玉米
今天，玉米的用途比我們意識到的還要多。無論是黃油，松軟的電影小吃，還是無數(shù)種牲畜的飼料，玉米隨處可見。對阿茲臺克人來說，玉米不僅僅是一種食物來源，他們認(rèn)為，其生長和收獲過程與生命周期同步：出生，再生和死亡。他們甚至有三位女性的玉米神來代表每一個周期，并且在整個作物周期中都受到大量的崇拜和感謝。代表第一個或最早的夏季作物的神西羅寧，西洛寧神有一個精心安排的祭拜節(jié)日來，在節(jié)日前的八天里，一個年輕的女奴打扮成西洛寧，男人和女人跳舞，人們吃以玉米為主的食物，在慶?；顒拥淖詈笠煌恚髀鍖幍哪７抡邔奚?，以表達對地球母親的感激之情，感謝地球母親提供了維持生命的作物，并確保作物和生命的循環(huán)將保持和諧共存。

3 Dill
Dill is another herb that is plentiful in gardens today. However, before dill was a welcomed weed, it was thought in old folklore to bring people both love and happiness. Specifically, in Germany and Belgium, sprigs of dill would be attached to the bride’s dress or floral bouquet to bring the new couple blessings on their marriage.Dill also has a grim side in mythology and old beliefs. European monks believed that dill could cause infertility and had the power to drive away male demons with an appetite for sexually preying on women. Dill did find its place in witchcraft, too. Ironically, it had two uses, one on each of the extreme ends of the spectrum. Many believed that drinking a glass of dill water could reverse the effects of a spell cast on you and hanging sprigs around a home could protect from any impending spells. But others believed that witches used dill in their potions and while casting spells.[8]

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3、蒔蘿（洋茴香）
蒔蘿草是今天花園里盛行的一種草本植物。然而，在蒔蘿還沒有成為一種受歡迎的作物之前，古老的民間傳說認(rèn)為它能給人們帶來愛和幸福。特別是在德國和比利時，新娘的婚紗或花束上會插上小枝蒔蘿，給新婚夫婦帶來祝福。蒔蘿在神話和舊信仰中也有陰郁的一面，歐洲的僧侶們認(rèn)為，蒔蘿會導(dǎo)致不孕不育，并有能力驅(qū)趕那些對女性饑渴的男性惡魔，蒔蘿也在巫術(shù)中有一席之地。具有諷刺意味的是，它有兩種用途，用處極端相反，許多人相信，喝一杯蒔蘿水可以逆轉(zhuǎn)施在你身上的咒語的影響，而在家里懸掛蒔蘿枝條可以保護你免受即將到來的咒語的傷害，但另一些人相信女巫在他們的藥水中和施放咒語時使用了蒔蘿。

2 Figs
Figs appear as far back as the Bible and were considered to be highly spiritual. However, it isn’t just this beautiful fruit itself that is used for spiritual and magical purposes. The Kikuyu women in Africa took the sap from fig trees and spread it on themselves to increase fertility.[9]But not every belief surrounding the fig is as wonderful and welcomed as fertility. In Bolivia, people thought that evil spirits stayed in the canopies of fig trees and that walking under a fig tree could cause grave illness. In Papua New Guinea, figs are feared because they are believed to be haunted by evil spirits that will be released when the fruit is opened.

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2、無花果
無花果出現(xiàn)在很久以前的圣經(jīng)里，并被認(rèn)為是高度精神化的，然而，這種美麗的水果本身不僅被用于精神和魔法的目的，非洲的基庫尤婦女從無花果樹上取下樹液，在自己身上涂上，以增加生育力。但也并不是所有圍繞無花果的信仰都這樣美妙和受歡迎，在玻利維亞，人們認(rèn)為邪惡的靈魂停留在無花果樹的樹冠上，走在無花果樹下可能會導(dǎo)致嚴(yán)重的疾病。在巴布亞新幾內(nèi)亞，人們害怕無花果，因為人們相信，無花果會被邪惡的鬼魂所困擾，當(dāng)果實被打開時，它們就會被釋放出來。

1 Poppy Seeds
Today, poppy seeds are famous in baked goods. Many are also aware of the relationship between poppy seeds and opium. But the magical history of the poppy seed predates what is common knowledge to us in the Western world. In ancient Greece, the poppy was representative of Hypnos, the god of sleep, and so it was thought to aid sleep. Hypnos was believed to bring about dreams of a prophetic nature while also soothing emotional trauma. While this sounds all warm and fuzzy, the poppy seed was also believed to be associated with Hades, representing an eternal sleep or death. In the Middle Ages, poppy cake was used by young women to determine the direction from which their one true love would come. A young woman would throw a piece of poppy cake out the door and have a dog fetch it. The direction from which the dog returned would be the same as that from which her true love would appear.[10]Poppy seeds also played contradictory roles in fertility. For example, poppy seeds put in the bottom of a bride’s shoe would result in infertility. Alternatively, eating sweetbreads made with poppy seeds on New Year’s Eve was believed to aid in abundance for the year to come.

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1、罌粟籽
今天，罌粟籽是著名的烘焙食品，許多人還認(rèn)識到罌粟籽與鴉片之間的關(guān)系。但是，罌粟籽的神奇歷史早于我們西方世界的常識，在古希臘，罌粟是睡眠之神許普諾斯的象征，因此人們認(rèn)為它有助于睡眠。許普諾斯被認(rèn)為能帶來預(yù)言性的夢境，同時也能撫慰情感創(chuàng)傷，雖然這聽起來很溫暖和模糊，但罌粟籽也被認(rèn)為與哈迪斯有關(guān)，代表著永恒的睡眠或死亡。在中世紀(jì)，年輕女性用罌粟蛋糕來決定她們的真愛從何而來，一個年輕的女人會把一塊罌粟蛋糕扔出門外，然后讓一只狗去取，狗返回的方向?qū)⑴c她的真愛出現(xiàn)的方向相同。罌粟籽在生育方面也起著相互矛盾的作用，例如，放在新娘鞋底的罌粟籽會導(dǎo)致不孕不育，而另一方面，人們認(rèn)為在新年前夜吃罌粟籽做成的甜食可以幫助我們在來年里獲得更多的收獲。