Symbolism and Mythology of Basil

Hey dear Hive community, first of all I would like to wish you all a good day and hope you are well and you made many positive experiences! In my new post, I would like to write about the symbolism and mythology of a plant and hope you can learn something new.

The plant that can be seen here bears the name basil is derived from the Greek word basilikos, which means royal. The origin is probably India and it was already highly revered there as a medicinal plant several thousands of years ago and I will go into more about the healing properties later in the post. In ancient Rome, basil was often seen as a sign of love and fertility, but there are different views on symbolism and in other cultures it was often associated with negativity.

Often the plant was also associated with protection and the divine and it is also assigned to the planets Mars and Jupiter. In mythology, this plant is strongly anchored and in Hindu mythology it was often regarded as a magical plant that could keep negative things away. In ancient Greece, it was often used as an antidote to the bites of the Basilisk, which was often known as a mixed creature and king among the serpents.

In Africa, it was often worn as a kind of talisman because it was thought to have protective properties and in ancient Egypt it has already played an important role. In Europe, basil became known in the Middle Ages during the 12th century and has quickly developed into a popular medicinal plant which has already been used by Hildegard of Bingen as well as the alchemist and doctor Paracelsus.

As a medicinal plant, basil has a reputation for having anti-inflammatory properties and can help well against viruses and bacteria. Due to the many contained active ingredients, it can be used in many ways against different diseases and is also very popular due to its antioxidant properties. As always, in case of illness, you should always ask your doctor or pharmacist about the right medicine and application!

Thanks for stopping by and watching! I captured the pictures with my Sony Alpha 6000 and 55-210mm lens!