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plants, nor why these should have been attributed to them, 
but in the case of that under consideration, we have consider- 
able information derived from themselves to guide us. Parsley 
was chiefly used by the Greeks in the garlands with which they 
decorated tombs, and was also eaten by them at funeral 
feasts; its use upon these occasions having given rise to a 
saying in reference to anyone sick past hope, which has come 
down to us “ deicbas Ledrwov,” “ He needs nothing but 
Parsley.” 
The purposes to which it was applied, prepare us to 
expect, that auguries deducible from it must be of sinister and 
disastrous import, and we find accordingly that Timoleon 
ascending a hill near Syracuse, to obtain a view of the 
Carthaginian army, having met some mules laden with 
Parsley, his soldiers regarded the event as most unfortunate 
and ill-boding, and declined to attack their enemies. 
I am not aware of any positive authority upon the point, 
but I think it probable that this herb was dedicated to 
Persephone, as Queen of the Dead, presuming her to be 
identical with Hecate or Selene, the resemblance of its Greek 
name—Selinon—to that of the last named divinity at once 
suggesting its direct derivation from her and the correctness 
of this supposition is supported by other etymological consider- 
ations. 
On examining the appellation of this plant, in such 
languages as I have at the moment an opportunity of referring 
to, I find that with remarkable uniformity, its old Greek name 
is preserved, with the prefix of Peter or its diminutive, thus 
excepting the 
Archaic Greek. Dedivov. 
ITS OTHER NAMES 
Latin Petroselinum 
Romaic TlerpoceAsvoy 
Italian Petroselino, Petrosemolo 
Petrosillo 
Portuguese Perrexil 
tye 
