In Greek antiquity the Pythia was the powerful Delphic Oracle 8c.BCE - 4c.CE who presided over a sacred mantic ritual, prophesying to individuals who pilgrimed to seek her counsel. Numerous references suggest she sat on a high tripod & inhaled a pneuma, the breath of vital spirit, mind altering vapours which rose from a chasm in the ground of the adyton, the temple's inner sanctum reserved solely for the Oracle. In her trance state of enthousiasmos she was believed to channel the spirit of the god Apollo & to utter his cryptic divinations. Laurel was considered possessed by Apollo's spirit & the Pythia is often depicted holding or burning the leaves, or possibly listening to them.
Prizes of laurel wreaths were given to winners at the Delphic Pythian Games, a competition for art, music, poetry & athletics. The practice of awarding the wreaths to symbolise victory extended to the ancient Romans. The terms 'laureate' & 'baccalaureate' are now used as a linguistic crown for artistic & academic achievements.
The romanticised myth of the nymph Daphne is an age old tale of sexual harassment. In a desperate attempt to escape Apollo, Daphne implored her father the god Peneus for help & he turned her into a laurel tree. Even after her metamorphosis she wasn't safe from Apollo, he tore away branches to wear as a laurel wreath around his head, supposedly to remember Daphne but such a violent act was a final attempt to posses her. The evergreen leaves of the tree are associated with resilience & immortality, a fitting tribute perhaps to Daphne.
In his 1636 Herball John Gerarde writes of 15 'virtues' (medical properties) of bay laurel including as an antibacterial, antimicrobial & astringent. To prevent food spoilage "Physitions do often use to boile the leaves of Laurell with divers meats, especially fishes, and by so doing there hapneth no desire of vomiting, but the meat seasoned herewith becommeth more savorie and better for the stomacke."
Aleppo soap follows a centuries old process, boiling olive oil & lye in a large cauldron for 3 days, laurel berry oil is then added in varying percentages, depending on the required strength, which gives the soap antiseptic properties. The mixture is poured onto a floor and smoothed flat with wooden paddles. After setting, it is cut into cubes and each one embossed by hand with the soap house's name using a metal stamp. The blocks of soap are then stacked and left to air dry for a minimum of 6 months
Images:
- Silver cinerary vessel & gold laurel wreath (3-2c. BCE), National Archaeological Museum of Athens. Credit: George E. Koronaios
- Priestess of Delphi (1891) John Collier, oil on canvas. Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
- Laurel from 'The Herball' or 'Generall historie of plantes. Gathered by John Gerarde of London Master in Chirurgerie: very much enlarged and amended by Thomas Johnson, citizen and apothecarie of London.' 1636
- Aleppo soap. Wikimedia