Some of the Hebrews used mandrakes to bring good fortune. What were the uses of mandrakes in the bible?Īs mentioned earlier, the mandrake root was used majorly by the Hebrews who strongly believed in its power to induce conception. the latter could only mean that the mandrake plant could’ve been in use for thousands of years prior. In Rachel’s case, she used the berries of the plant to aid in her conception as she and Jacob were struggling to get a child but to no avail. According to the bible, mandrakes were a pretty common plant in and around Israel, which explains their popularity back in the day.Īccording to the scriptures, Leah and Rachel also used mandrake roots in a bid to boost their fertility. Mandrakes were mentioned in genesis 30:14 and songs of songs 7:13. Where are mandrakes mentioned in the bible? Today, only two species of the mandrake survive. But, it only survived in other areas whose weather conditions mimicked that of the Mediterranean region (those areas have been mentioned in the previous paragraph.) The mandrake plant is believed to have originated from the Mediterranean region and spread to other parts of the world as a result of migration. The latter areas make sense, especially Northern Africa and the middle east because that’s where most of the bible stories, especially the old testament, took place. Some of the areas where it thrives include Northern Africa, the Middle East, Southern Europe. What parts of the world do mandrakes thrive the most?Īccording to research, there’re six different mandrake species spread across the world.
If ingested, one is likely to suffer from the following symptoms: diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, dry mouth, and blurred vision.
These two alkaloids are not only poisonous but are also powerful hallucinogens. It’s because the ancient plant contains two deadly components scopolamine and hyoscyamine. Today, scientists have found out the reason why mandrake is so deadly.
Speaking of consumption, the ancients were fully aware of just how poisonous the mandrake was and wouldn’t dare consume it. They used to steep the root either in vinegar or wine before it was consumed. It’s no wonder the Greeks associated the plant with Aphrodite, their goddess of Love. It was alternatively referred to as ‘love apples’ by the ancients. Mandrakes were also used in ancient Greece as an aphrodisiac. Unlike in Harry Potter movies, mandrakes don’t scream when put in a cauldron of boiling water. The plant has not only been written about a few times in the bible but has somehow found itself in the contemporary pop culture where it’s been featured in blockbuster movies such as the Harry Potter Franchise. The mandrake plant, also known as the Mandragora Officinaruimby botanists, is one ancient plant that has had its fair share of myths over the years.
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