GRANATUM 157 



considered distinct species and so named by several 

 authors. They are now all considered forms of one 

 species. 



The pomegranate shrub, according to De Candolle 

 (122), was originally a native of Persia and adjacent 

 countries, but has been cultivated and naturalized in 

 the Mediterranean countries at such an early date that 

 it has even been considered indigenous to these sections. 



Pomegranate was included among the vegetable prod- 

 ucts held sacred by the Assyrians (86) and Egyptians 

 (688) ; the latter made it a custom to place in the graves 

 of their dead, fruits of the field and garden, among them 

 pomegranates, specimens of which are preserved to 

 the present day (239). The pomegranate had un- 

 doubtedly an occult significance with the ancient 

 nations. It was frequently used as a mystical emblem 

 in adorning the capitals of Assyrian and Egyptian 

 columns, and the Bible (I Kings, vii: 18, 20), tells us 

 that in the building of Solomon's temple, the capitals 

 of the columns were decorated with a "network of 

 pomegranates." Also, (Ex. xxviii, 33, 34), the hem of 

 the high priest's robe was adorned with imitations of 

 pomegranates in blue, purple and scarlet, alternating 

 with bells of gold. The pomegranate was one of the 

 fruits brought to Moses by the men sent to spy out the 

 land of promise (302). Many other passages scattered 

 throughout the Bible testify to the esteem in which the 

 tree and the fruit (then called rimmon), were held in 

 ancient times. The fruit and seed of the pomegranate 

 are often mentioned in the Arabian Nights. 



Pomegranates were represented on Carthaginian 

 and Phenician medals (422) and on the reverse of coins 

 of the island of Rhodes (688). In Greek mythology 



