Rosemary: Used In Ancient Grecian Culture

Rosemary, or garden rosemary (as it is sometimes commonly called), is a very common plant used in many aspects of human life. The scientific name of rosemary is Rosmarinus officinalis and belongs to the Lamiaceae family, and is related to basil and oregano. (Cumo) My interest is in rosemary and how it was used in ancient cultures, especially Ancient Greece. Known as one of the oldest recorded herbs in the history of botany, rosemary has a deep rooted past in ancient and even modern culture. Rosemary was a very important herb in ancient Grecian culture. The ancient Greek wore garlands of rosemary to improve their memory (and even today, rosemary aroma is said to help with mental alertness). (Cumo) Greek scholars would wear sprigs of rosemary when taking a test because they believed that the herb helped their performance. (Collins) Due to the herb's name sake and the location of where it grows, rosemary became associated with the goddess of love Venus because she was born from the sea. Due to this association, rosemary became synonymous with fidelity, love in ancient Grecian culture and was used at weddings and funerals. (Cumo)
Rosemary was burned with juniper and thyme as antiseptic in medieval hospitals, and was still used as a symbol for remembrance. In old England, Rosemary bundles were put on graves and the herb was still heavily associated with wedding ceremonies. It was popularly talked about by Shakespeare (Ad Lunum) There is an old tradition of where a new couple would plant a branch of rosemary on their wedding day, and if that branch grew, it was a good omen for the marriage. Another ancient tradition or use for the herb was that rosemary was often placed under pillows in the belief that it would help prevent nightmares, and even outside houses in the thought that it would repel