Lettace

Lettuce in Ancient Egypt


 * Egyptian Name:**

//'Bw// or //'Ft//

Cultivated since the Old Kingdom, lettuce was very popular in ancient Egypt. Its leaves were eaten whole, dipped in oil and salt, and lettuce has been found in many tombs as an offering to the dead. In some occasions it was woven into bouquets of flowers. Lettuce seeds were pressed to extract oil, which was used in cooking. According to Egyptian herbals, chopped lettuce applied to the head was thought to regrow hair.

It was the sacred vegetable of the fertility god Min, and was often protected by a little statue of the god. During the festivals of Min his statue was carried by priests throughout the city, followed by men holding bundles of lettuce. A recurring theme in tomb reliefs is lettuce plants growing behind Min. Bunches of lettuce were frequently part of votive offerings, having a reputation for being an aphrodisiac and enhancing fertility. Even today, Egyptian peasants believe that one will have many children if plenty of lettuce is eaten.

Vegetables of Ancient Egypt

Fiber and Oil Plants of Ancient Egypt