34 THE FIG: ITS HISTORY, CULTURE, AND CURING. 
how the goddess Demeter visited that country and that one night she 
was belated and was given a friendly and hospitable reception by Phy- 
talos. In return for the hospitality, she bade the fig tree spring from 
the ground in the same manner in which Minerva had caused the olive 
toappear. In time the fig became a sacred tree and second only to the 
olive in importance. By the time of Theophrast a large number of 
fig varieties had been originated and imported. These varieties are, 
however, so indefinitely deseribed that they can not be identified with 
any now existing, though it is possible that some of them may yet 
survive. The ancient Greeks knew the caprifig well under the names 
of Olynthos and Tragos, the latter being the name used by the Mes- 
senians. Other names of this tree were Erineos (E pzveos) and Syche- 
agria (Svyjwypi~)—in new Greek Agriosykia (Aypiuogvuia),  ~ 
The best figs in ancient times were those grown in Attica. They 
were so highly valued and considered so necessary for home use that 
a law was passed prohibiting their export. Until this law was pro- 
mulgated smuggling, it was said, was unknown, but from that 
time it became a common and profitable business to secretly export 
and sell figs. To prevent this practice, special guardians were 
appointed by the Government to watch and accuse those who broke 
the law. These guardians were called sycophants (from sykon, a 
fig, and phainein, to show). These officers of the law soon became 
hated on account of the blackmail used by them for their own enrich- 
ment, and the word sycophant became synonymous with the idea of 
a secret spy. This meaning of the word has survived to this day. 
The fig had among the ancient Greeks a sacred, symbolic, and 
mystic meaning, an emblem of fertility and propagation. The 
flowers of the fig were hidden, while all other flowers were open 
to the light of the sun. The fig soon became a religious and 
mythical symbol in the festivities and worship of the god Dionysios, 
and a basket of fresh figs was carried next to the vessel containing 
the wine destined as offering to that god. 
FIGS IN MODERN GREECE, 
The cultivated and edible fig is known in Greece as ‘‘he sykea” 
(7) ovxéa), and the figs are known as ‘‘ta syka” (ta ovxa), The old 
Pelasgic name was ‘‘fik,” plural ‘‘fikj,” and from this word has 
originated the modern word ‘‘ fig,” as well as the ancient Latin word 
SUSY 2 
In modern times the fig tree is extensively cultivated all over 
Greece, in the mainland as well as on the islands, and many vari- 
eties are cultivated. Among these the very early kinds are known 
as ‘‘proima” (pou), The best and earliest of these come from 
Agina, and are ripe in the month of June. Other famous varieties 
are the so-called Smyrna varieties, or the ‘‘Smyrnaia,” though we 
have no means of knowing whether or not they actually are identical 
