The Pomegranate Badge of Katherine of Aragon
The Greek Goddess of Love, Aphrodite, lends her name
to an extensive list of foods and other weird and wonderful items that
are supposed to increase the libido and enhance the chances of seduction
and therefore fecundity. The issue of fertility has always been an
overriding concern for humankind, and any substance that either enhances
sexual prowess or increases the chance of conception has always been
highly sought after.
Ancient man had a
limited seasonal diet, and a bad hunt or the failure of a crop could
literally be a life-or-death matter. Getting enough food to eat was an
overriding concern. Chances of fertility are restricted if nourishment
is poor, and so certain foods were given magical powers in the hopes
that they might increase both male and female potency despite the
limited diet. There is a marked differentiation between the foods that
increase fertility versus the ones that enhance sex drive, and given
that early man did not know about the chemical constituents of food,
many aphrodisiacs were chosen as such primarily because of their
symbolic significance. The Doctrine of Signatures—the notion that a
plant or a feature of an animal that is similar in appearance or quality
to a body part could be beneficial to the organ it resembles—had an
important part to play in deciding which foods had aphrodisiac
qualities. Rhinoceros horn, for example, still carries a frisson as a
stimulant to sexual appetites, as does Spanish Fly. Both these
ingredients, sort of mystical precursors to Viagra, were ingested by men
in eager anticipation of increased virility.
Pliny the Elder and Dioscordes documented many of
these aphrodisiacs as far back as the first century, and it is likely
that they would have been regarded as such for some time prior to this.
The behavior and lifestyle of certain animals made
them fertility symbols, too. For example, the sparrow, a prolific
breeder, was sacred to Aphrodite and its blood was a popular ingredient
in love potions. Steak was thought to contain all the virility of the
animal it came from, the bloodier the better. Ground rhinoceros horn is
symbolic of the libido but the power of the rhino is also perceived as
the ultimate in male sexual energy.
This ancient, visceral belief in
the power of appearances has meant that many of the original foods that
were considered to have aphrodisiac powers by ancient man still carry
the same meanings today, despite their actual chemical constituents. It
is true to say that certain foods actually do have aphrodisiac powers
purely because of these old beliefs, and generally owe more to folklore
and symbolism than to fact; however, a symbol is a potent force and
often the association alone is enough to bring about the desired effect.
For example, a dinner date where oysters and strawberries are on the menu will leave no doubt about the intended conclusion to the evening.
To our ancestors, any kind of food that resembled the
penis, the vagina, or constituent parts thereof, carried powerful
suggestive meanings, although latterly our ability to analyze certain
minerals and trace elements has proven that some supposedly aphrodisiac foods may
actually deserve their reputation. For example, the fifty oysters that
Casanova reputedly managed to swallow every day for breakfast not only
resemble the female sexual parts in scent, texture, and form, but it has
also been discovered that their high zinc content may indeed help
enhance the libido; a large proportion of zinc is spent when men
ejaculate.
For ancient man it was not always necessary for the
foods to be eaten for them to have the desired effect. Some of the weird
and wonderful things considered to have aphrodisiac qualities were
toxic, but could work their magic simply by close proximity. The berries
of mistletoe, for example, were a reminder of the semen of the Gods and
the little crosses on the undersides were kisses, but it would be
unwise to eat them.
Seeds, nuts, bulbs, and eggs, because they are full of
potential new life, were considered as aids to fertility; snails, too,
were considered to enhance sexual appetites because of the viscous fluid
of the trails they leave behind, although slugs are not considered to
have any aphrodisiac qualities whatsoever.
Here is a brief list of some of the foods that have been considered, at some time or other, to have aphrodisiac qualities.
NUTS, SEEDS, AND BULBS
Aniseed
Falls into the category of seeds. Also aids
digestion and sweetens the breath which could explain why the Romans
considered it a useful ingredient for seduction.
Star anise
potent fertility symbol.
FRUITS
In general, all seed-bearing fruits are aphrodisiacs. Their numerous seeds, their texture, scent, and color make them a naturally sexy foodstuff.
Apple
Infamous as the fruit that Eve gave to Adam, a symbol of sexual awakening.
Cherry
Sensuously red and juicy, and containing a potent
symbol of new life inside the stone. “Popping the cherry” is a slang
term for losing one’s virginity.
Raspberries and strawberries
Libido enhancing because of their color, their many tiny seeds, and their resemblance to nipples.
Tomato
The tomato is also called the “Love Apple” and is
regarded as an aphrodisiac, because of the prolific number of seeds
contained within it. However, the name itself is the result of an
accidental misinterpretation. Because they were originally a yellow
color they were called “Pomo D’or” in Italy, the Apple of Gold. It was
also called the “Pomo d’Moro”—the apple of the Moors, referring to its
Spanish origins. From here, it was just a slip of the tongue to the
French, “Pomme d’Amour,” or Love Apple.
MALE GENITALIA
Many of these are self-explanatory, all considered
powerful simply because of their shape. Asparagus, carrots, and cucumber
are just a few of the “phallic vegetables.”
Avocado
The Mexicans called the avocado tree the “testicle
tree,” since the fruit dangles down in pairs. The sensual texture of
avocado adds to its reputation.
Banana
The banana flower resembles the phallus. Islamic
tales say that Adam and Eve covered their sexual parts with banana
leaves rather than the more common fig leaves.
Cloves
Because they resemble little phalluses, cloves were
considered to enhance male potency. The clove tree was planted to
signify the birth of a baby boy in certain parts of Indonesia, the
health of the tree reflecting the health of the child as it grew up.
FEMALE GENITALIA
Almond
As well as being the same shape as the vesica
piscis, the sacred doorway through which matter emerges into spirit, the
almond is a nut and therefore carries the potential for new life.
Fig
The plethora of tiny seeds inside the fig is
symbolic of fertility, and the moist plumpness of the fruit has a very
sensual, feminine element to it.
Oyster
The oyster’s resemblance in form, scent, and texture
to the female genitalia is renowned. Oysters have had a long history as
an aphrodisiac and their reputation is well known. The pearl that is
sometimes found inside the oyster was said to increase the powers of
arousal, because it resembles the clitoris.
Other shellfish, such as mussels, fall into this same category.
SPICES AND HERBS
Anything sharp tasting or pungent is believed to stimulate the senses, so spices are often used as libidoenhancing ingredients.
Asafetida
This is the ground root of a fennellike plant. It
has a powerful odor, and despite its folk name, Devil’s Dung, it is used
as a sexual stimulant in Ayurvedic medicine.
Cinnamon
The glorious scent of cinnamon was reputedly used as
oil by the Queen of Sheba to help her capture the attention of King
Solomon.
Coriander
Also comes under the category of seeds. Reputed to stimulate appetites of all kinds.
Fennel
The Egyptians who used this as a sexual stimulant
cannot have known that it contains plant estrogens that can help balance
female hormones. These estrogens also enhance the breasts.
Ginger and ginseng
Considered to have aphrodisiac powers because of their sharp sensual taste, and because their roots resemble the human form.
Mint
A Greek legend says that Menthe, a beautiful nymph,
was transformed into the herb because Persephone was jealous of the
beautiful scent that captivated her husband, Pluto.
HONEY
The sweetness of honey made it a rarity for ancient
man. It is likely to have given humankind its first instance of alcohol
in the form of mead, and its intoxicating effect has distinct
aphrodisiac qualities. Bees are themselves symbols of fertility, and
honey gives its name to the honeymoon period spent by newlyweds
immediately after their marriage.
CHOCOLATE
The melting point of chocolate is the same as that
of blood temperature, and so its mouthfeel alone is a sensual
experience. Added to this, chocolate contains mood-lifting substances,
including phenylethylamine which, when released into the bloodstream,
induce feelings of euphoria. Still arguably the most popular food given
as a gesture of love. When the sixteenth-century Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés heard about its reputation as an aphrodisiac, he planted two thousand trees.
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