Lotus tree
The lotus tree ( Greek λωτός ) is a species of tree of unclear definition mentioned several times in ancient literature.
The lotus that appears in Homer's Odyssey and is consumed by the lotus eaters is probably the lotus flower , an aquatic plant already used as food by the ancient Egyptians, and not the tree.
Herodotus describes a lotus expressly designated as a tree for the first time. According to him, the North African lotus is a tree or shrub similar to the thorny acacia. It is assumed that the tree described by Herodotus and Polybius is the sidar tree from the genus Ziziphus .
The tree described by Theophrastus von Eresos is probably the hackberry tree ( Celtis australis ).
Pliny the Elder gives the following description of the lotus tree in his Naturalis historia : The tree comes from North Africa, but was made native to Italy. Some called him " Celtis ". It was about the size of a pear tree, although Cornelius Nepos wrote that it was only down. The leaves have incisions like those of the holm oak . There are several varieties of the lotus tree, which differ essentially in their fruits, which are about the size of beans, are saffron-colored , but change color during ripening, just like grapes. As with the myrtle, the branches are densely covered with leaves.
At another point Pliny describes the medicinal use: the berries act as an astringent and pieces of bark cooked in wine acted against diarrhea , excessive menstrual bleeding , dizziness , and epilepsy . They are also good for hair loss . And there is nothing in the world that tastes more bitter.
Lotus trees are mentioned several times by Pliny:
- a lotus tree that can reach a very old age, probably the lotus plum ,
- an overseas lotus tree that has no trunk (possibly also the sidar tree or another type of ziziphus ),
- a tree with particularly good wood, probably also the lotus plum, since this has a particularly dark and solid wood.
Pliny also mentions a dispute between the Roman censors Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus (consul 96 BC) and Lucius Licinius Crassus : Gnaeus Domitius envied Crassus for his house and offered him 10 million sesterces . Crassus replied that he would accept the offer if he could remove 6 trees from the property, to which Gnaeus Domitius replied that without the trees the property would not be worth sesterce to him. These very highly valued lotus trees, which Pliny says have very wide branches and offer good shade, were probably hackberry trees again.
In modern times the lotus tree refers to the lotus plum.
literature
- Konrat Ziegler : Lotos (3). In: The Little Pauly (KlP). Volume 3, Stuttgart 1969, Col. 743.
- Johann Gottlob Schneider: Concise Dictionary of the Greek Language Vol. 2, Leipzig 1828, p. 58 Online
Individual evidence
- ↑ Homer Odyssey 9.91–99
- ↑ Herodotus Histories 2.96, 4.177
- ↑ Polybios Historíai 12.2
- ↑ Theophrastus from Eresos Historia plantarum 4.3.1f
- ↑ Pliny Naturalis historia 13.32: Eadem Africa, qua vergit ad nos, insignem arborem loton gignit, quam vocat celthim, et ipsam Italiae familiarem, sed terra mutatam. praecipua est circa Syrtis atque Nasimonas. magnitudo quae piro, quamquam Nepos Cornelius brevem tradit. incisurae folio crebriores; alioqui ilicis viderentur. differentiae plures, eaeque maxime fructibus fiunt. magnitudo huic fabae, color croci, sed ante maturitatem alius atque alius, sicut uvis. nascitur densus in ramis myrti modo, non ut in Italia cerasis.
- ↑ Pliny Naturalis historia February 24
- ↑ Pliny Naturalis historia 16.85
- ↑ Pliny Naturalis historia 16.53
- ↑ Pliny Naturalis historia 13.17
- ↑ Pliny Naturalis historia January 17