Mandrake is the common name for members of the plant genus Mandragora.
It is probable that so-called ‘mystical’ properties were attributed to mandrake mainly because of the form of the parsnip-like root system, which usually divides to give ‘arm and leg’ appendages to a human body form, which can take either female or male characteristics.
It was a common belief in some countries that a mandrake would grow where the semen of a hanged man dripped on to the earth. (I wonder how these weird beliefs came about)
The true mandrake is a poisonous plant with a forked root; classical writers and the Bible mention it as an aphrodisiac and as making barren women fertile, while in medieval times it was used as a powerful soporific and pain-killer.
And the origin of the mandrake's association with fertility is truly ancient, surfacing first in chapter 30 of the Book of Genesis, where Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob and Leah finds mandrakes in the field. Childless Rachel, Jacob's second wife, the sister of Leah, is desirous of the mandrakes and she barters with her sister for them. The trade offered by Rachel is for Leah to spend the next night in Jacob's bed.
In Genesis 30:14, Leah gives Rachel mandrakes in exchange for a night of sleeping with their husband.
During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields
and found some mandrake plants,
which he brought to his mother Leah.
Rachel said to Leah, "Please
give me some of your son's mandrakes."
Soon after this Leah, who previously had had four sons but had ceased to become pregnant for a long while then became pregnant once more and gave birth to a son. Mandrake in Hebrew means “love plant”. Hence, beliefs attribute mandrakes with aphrodisiac and fertility qualities. (eg. Mandrakes help barren women to conceive a child)
Mandrake roots became highly sought after in their native Mediterranean habitat, and attempts to protect them from theft are thought to have been the source of the second mandrake myth, which stated that a demon inhabited the root and would kill anyone who attempted to uproot it. Pulling the root out by hand is considered an ill-advised thing to do as many have claimed that the root, which resembled human form, was said to utter a shriek that killed or drove mad anyone who heard it. Once pulled, however, the plant was said to provide soothing sleep, heal wounds, induce love, and facilitate pregnancy.
Over the centuries, elaborate rituals developed to avoid what became known as the mandrake's curse, the most famous of these requiring the assistance of a dog. A furrow must be dug around the root until its lower part is exposed, then a dog is tied to it, after which the person tying the dog must get away. The dog then endeavours to follow him, and so easily pulls up the root, but dies suddenly instead of his master. After this the root can be handled without fear.
Later elaboration of this legend attributed the herb's lethal power to a shriek or a groan emitted by the mandrake as it was uprooted, and suggested that death could be avoided either by a loud blast on a horn at the critical moment or by sealing one's ears with wax. (In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the earmuff is used)
ugly right? haha
anyway, JOEL, this is for you XD haha!!
xoxo,
gatherpens <3 u :)
p.s. NOW YOU REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH FREE TIME I HAVE. haha
p.p.s TO HUIHAN: we came across the word mandrake in the bible. and i was curious, hence i blogged about it
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