When walking in the nearby streets, I see many pomegranates in people’s yard begin to mature. The red pomegranates made me feel the joy of harvest. When I collected further information about pomegranate, I was surprised that pomegranate has a long history in many cultures. They appear in Greek mythology, Egyptian tomb paintings, the Old Testament, European Christian motifs, China, Iran and ancient Persia as well as other cultures. Pomegranate is not only used for eating and drinking, rich in nutrients, but also can be used as an ornamental tree.
在附近街道散步時，看到許多人家的石榴開始成熟，一顆顆紅咚咚的石榴，給人一種豐收的喜悅。當我進一步收集有關石榴的資料時，我好驚訝石榴在許多文化中有淵源的歷史。 它們出現在希臘神話，埃及墓葬畫中，舊約，歐洲基督教圖案, 中國, 伊朗和古代波斯以及其它文化中。石榴不僅可拿來食用、飲用，有豐富的營養素，也可用作為觀賞的樹木
In the past few months in 2020, I have taken photos of pomegranates occasionally. From flowering to fruiting, you can see its appearance at different stages in these photos.
2020 年過去數個月，隨便照了些石榴的照片，從開花到結果，從這幾張照片中，可看到它在不同階段的模樣。
Photo Date: 2020.05.25 Location: LA County
Photo Date: 2020.06.18 Location: Peck Road Park
Photo Date: 2018.07.06 Location: LA County
Photo Date: 2019.08.20 Location: LA County
Photo Date: 2020.10.17 Location: LA County
Notes 筆記
- The pomegranate tree is native from Iran to the Himalayas in northern India and has been cultivated since ancient times throughout the Mediterranean region of Asia, Africa and Europe. It was introduced into Spanish America in the late 16th century and into California by Spanish settlers in 1769. Today, it is widely cultivated throughout the Middle East and Caucasus region, Africa, Central and Southeast Asia, and parts of the Mediterranean Basin.
- The name pomegranate derives from medieval Latin pōmum “apple” and grānātum “seeded.” The names means apple with many seeds.
- A pomegranate tree or shrub can stand between 20 to 30 ft. high, is well-branched with thorns, and is exceptionally long-lived, some specimens at Versailles known to have survived two centuries. Flowers on the branch tips can occur singly or in groups up to five. The fruit is yellow blanketed with light or deep pink, or rich red coloring.
- The pomegranate is grown for its fruit crop, and as ornamental trees and shrubs in parks and gardens.
- The fruit can be consumed in a variety of ways ranging from snacking or adding them to desserts, salads, soups, sauces, and ice cream. The fruit is commonly juiced and consumed alone or added to alcoholic drinks.
- Pomegranate is a good source of folate, potassium and vitamin K. It has been reported that consumption of pomegranate fruit or juice can treat dyspepsia and is considered beneficial in leprosy. The bark of the stem and root contains several alkaloids which are active against tapeworms. Because of their tannin content, extracts of the bark, leaves, immature fruit and fruit rind have been given as astringents to halt diarrhea, dysentery and hemorrhages. Dried, pulverized flower buds are employed as a remedy for bronchitis. In Mexico, a decoction of the flowers is gargled to relieve oral and throat inflammation. Leaves, seeds, roots and bark have displayed hypotensive, antispasmodic and anthelmintic activity in bioassay.
- Pomegranates have a rich history. They appear in Greek mythology, Egyptian tomb paintings, Old Testament and many cultures.
- Ancient Egyptians regarded the pomegranate as a symbol of prosperity and ambition.
- Ancient and Modern Greece
- In Ancient Greek mythology, the pomegranate was known as the “fruit of the dead”, and believed to have sprung from the blood of Adonis.
- The myth of Persephone, the goddess of the underworld, prominently features her consumption of pomegranate seeds, requiring her to spend a certain number of months in the underworld every year.
- In modern times, the pomegranate still holds strong symbolic meanings for the Greeks. When one buys a new home, it is conventional for a house guest to bring as a first gift a pomegranate, which is placed under/near the ikonostasi (home altar) of the house, as a symbol of abundance, fertility, and good luck. When Greeks commemorate their dead, they make kollyva as offerings, which consist of boiled wheat, mixed with sugar and decorated with pomegranate. Pomegranate decorations for the home are very common in Greece and sold in most home goods stores.
- Ancient Israel and Judaism. The pomegranate is mentioned or alluded to in the Bible many times.
- In Exodus 28:33-34, it shows that pomegranates must be sown to the hem of the robe of the high priest. “On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, around its hem, with bells of gold between them, a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe.” I enjoy reading Pomegranates In Israel And The Bible which describes the spiritual meaning of the seeds of pomegranates and the meaning of the symbols that appeared on the High Priest’s robe.
- In Numbers 13:23 and Deuteronomy 8:8 you can see that the pomegranate is used as a by-word for blessing and prosperity, fertility and fruitfulness.
- Pomegranates feature strongly in Song of Songs, speaking of love, beauty, fruitfulness and fertility.
- Consuming pomegranates on Rosh Hashana is traditional because, with its numerous seeds, it symbolizes fruitfulness.
- In European Christian motifs
- In the earliest incontrovertible appearance of Christ in a mosaic, a fourth-century floor mosaic from Hinton St Mary. The bust of Christ and the chi rho are flanked by pomegranates.
- Pomegranates figure in many religious paintings often in the hands of the Virgin Mary or the infant Jesus. The fruit, broken or bursting open, is a symbol of the fullness of Jesus’ suffering and resurrection.
- In the Eastern Orthodox Church, pomegranate seeds may be used in kolyva, a dish prepared for memorial services, as a symbol of the sweetness of the heavenly kingdom.
- Armenia
- The pomegranate is one of the main fruits in Armenian culture (alongside apricots and grapes). The pomegranate is a symbol in Armenia, representing fertility, abundance, and marriage.
- China
- According to legend, pomegranate was introduced to China by Zhang Qian in the Western Han Dynasty.
- The Chinese regard the pomegranate as a symbol of fecundity and prosperity.
- India
- In some Hindu traditions, the pomegranate symbolizes prosperity and fertility.
- Iran and ancient Persia
- Iran is the second-largest producer and largest exporter of pomegranates in the world. Pomegranate’s juice and paste have a role in Iranian cuisine. Pomegranate skins may be used to stain wool and silk in the carpet industry.
- The Pomegranate Festival is an annual cultural and artistic festival held to exhibit and sell pomegranates, food products, and handicrafts.
- 石榴樹原產於伊朗，位於印度北部的喜馬拉雅山，自古以來就在亞洲，非洲和歐洲的地中海地區被栽種。它於16世紀晚期傳入西班牙美洲，並於1769年由西班牙移民傳入加洲。如今，它已在中東和高加索地區，非洲，中亞和東南亞以及地中海盆地的部分地區廣泛種植。
- 石榴這個名字源於中世紀的拉丁語 pōmum “蘋果” 和 grānātum “種子”。 也就是有很多種子的蘋果的意思。
- 石榴樹可在20至30英尺高之間，有長刺，且壽命極長，凡爾賽的一些標本據稱已經存留了兩個世紀。 枝尖上的花可以單獨，或最多五個一組出現。 果實可以是黃色覆蓋著淺或深粉紅色或是深紅色。
- 種植石榴可為了拿來當作水果，或在公園和花園中用作為觀賞的樹木。
- 它的果食可以多種方式食用，包括零食或將其添加到甜點，沙拉，湯，醬汁和冰淇淋中。果食通常可榨成汁，然後單獨飲用或添加到酒精飲料中。
- 石榴是葉酸，鉀和維生素K的良好來源。據報導，食用石榴果或果汁可以治療消化不良，並且對麻風病有益。 莖和根的樹皮含有幾種生物鹼可用來對付絛蟲。 由於單寧含量高，樹皮，樹葉，未成熟的果實和果皮的提取物已被用作收斂劑，可以止瀉，止痢和止血。 乾燥，粉碎的花蕾可用作治支氣管炎的藥物。 在墨西哥，將花朵的水煎劑漱口可減輕口腔和喉嚨發炎。 葉子，種子，根和樹皮在生物測定中顯示出降壓，解痙和驅蟲活性。
- 石榴歷史悠久。它們出現在希臘神話，埃及墓葬畫中，舊約以及其它文化中。
- 古埃及人把石榴視為繁榮和野心的象徵。
- 古希臘及現代希臘
- 在古希臘神話中，石榴被稱為“死者的果實”，人們相信是從阿多尼斯的血液中冒出來的。
- 波斯女神（Persephone）在神話中，她是陰間的女神，她的主要特徵是她食用石榴籽，因此她每年需要在陰間中度過數月。
- 在現代，石榴對希臘人仍然具有很強的象徵意義。當人們購買新房時，客人通常會把石榴作為第一個禮物，把石榴放置在房屋的家庭祭壇下面/附近，以表示豐富，肥沃和吉祥的象徵。 當希臘人紀念死者時，他們將煮熟的小麥，糖和石榴混合製做為祭品。在希臘石榴是非常普遍的被用於家居裝飾上，並在大多數家居用品商店中出售。
- 古代以色列和猶太教。石榴在聖經中被多次提及或被隱射。
- 在出埃及記28:33-34中，它表明必須在大祭司長袍的下擺要有石榴。”袍子周圍底邊上要用藍色、紫色、朱紅色線做石榴。在袍子周圍的石榴中間要有金鈴鐺： 一個金鈴鐺一個石榴，一個金鈴鐺一個石榴，在袍子周圍的底邊上。” 閱讀《石榴在以色列和聖經中》這篇文章我受益良多，其中描述了石榴種子的心靈上含義以及大祭司長袍上出現的符號的含義。
- 在民數記13:23和申命記8:8中，你可以看到石榴被用作祝福和繁榮，生育和碩果的代名詞。
- 石榴在雅歌中佔有重要地位，談到愛情，美麗，富有成果和生育力。
- 傳統上在猶太新年時會食用石榴，因為它的種子眾多，象徵著豐產。
- 在歐洲基督教圖案中
- 無可爭議，基督最早在馬賽克中的出現是在興頓聖瑪麗（Hinton St Mary）的四世紀地板上的馬賽克。基督的半身像和凱樂符號(chi rho)的側面是石榴。
- 在許多宗教繪畫中都有石榴身影，它通常在聖母瑪利亞或嬰兒耶穌的手中。果實破裂是耶穌受苦和復活的象徵。
- 在東正教教堂，石榴籽可用於紀念活動中準備的菜式科里瓦（kolyva），象徵著天國的甜美。
- 亞美尼亞
- 石榴是亞美尼亞文化的主要水果之一（與杏子和葡萄齊名）。 它象徵著生育，豐富和婚姻。
- 中國
- 石榴相傳是在西漢時由張騫引入中國的。
- 中國人視石榴為吉祥物，以為它是多子多福的象徵。
- 印度
- 在某些印度教傳統中，石榴象徵著繁榮與富饒。
- 伊朗和古代波斯
- 伊朗是世界第二大石榴生產國和最大出口國。石榴的汁和糊狀物在伊朗美食中有著重要的角色。石榴皮可用於地毯工業中的羊毛和絲綢染色。
- 石榴節是一年一度的文化藝術節，旨在展示和銷售石榴，食品和手工藝品。
References 參考資料
- Wikipedia: Pomegranate
- Purdue University NewCrop: Pomegranate
- One For Israel: Pomegranates in Israel and the Bible
- Old Dominion University Plants of the Bible: Pomegranate
- 維基百科: 石榴
Plants Posts 植物的帖子