254 
THE HYSSOP OF THE ANCIENTS. 
with those of the ancient Hyssop, as it is never found naturally growing upon rocks 
or walls : and, besides, it is distinctly mentioned in Sacred History by another name. 
Of Labiates, three plants have received a share of attention. The first is the Winter 
Savory (Satureia montana), which possesses the properties, grows in the localities, 
and has similar habits to those of the Hyssop ; but Pliny notices it as a cultivated 
herb, which was used by the Romans as a spice in their cookery and medicine. 
Rosemary (Bosmarinus officinalis) has also had its supporters ; but it does not 
grow in all the required localities. 
Perhaps the Labiate which claims the greatest share of our attention, is a variety 
of the common Hyssop, usually known by the name of Hyssopus orientalis. It is 
the H. officinalis angustifolius of Bentham, and the H. Caucasica of Sprengel. 
The leaves are very narrow, the stems slender, and altogether the plant is of a much 
less size than the common Hyssop of our gardens ; the habits and properties also 
correspond with those attributed to the Jewish Hyssop ; but the localities are remote, 
it being found in a wild state on Caucasus, and other parts of Central Asia, but 
never in Egypt or Arabia. 
None of the above species, therefore, appear to possess all the requisites of the 
true Hyssop. In June, 1844, Dr. Royle read before the Asiatic Society, an inter- 
esting paper, to prove that the Caper plant is the Hyssop of the ancients.* The 
Doctor's attention was first drawn to this subject, from observing that in Rhases, 
there were two kinds of Hyssop known. One of these grows in the neighbourhood 
of Jerusalem and about Mount Sinai, in which last place it was discovered by 
Burckhardt, creeping up the sides of the mountain, like a parasite, and spreading 
out its numerous slender branches, covered with small thorns, in every direction. 
The Arabic name also he states to be Aszef. 
From Burckhardt's name and description, Dr. Royle concluded the common 
Caper plant must be meant, as it is well known that this, or a nearly allied species, is 
indigenous both in Lower Egypt, in the Desert, the Mountain of Sinai, and also on 
the wall and ruins of Jerusalem, in which several situations, it has been found both 
by Bove and other travellers and writers. The name, also, would seem strongly to 
favour the supposition that this plant is really the true Hyssop of the ancients, its 
Arabic name being Aszef or Azuf. 
As all the requisites of the ancient Hyssop appear to unite in the Caper plant, it 
would seem scarcely philosophical to deem such a coincidence purely accidental — for, 
1st. The name in Arabic, Aszef, or Azuf, bears a strong resemblance to the 
Hebrew name Azof, or Ezob. 
2nd. It appears to possess the same habits as the Jewish kind, growing on walls 
and rocks. 
3rd. It grows wild in all the localities where the Jewish plant must have been 
indigenous, for the Israelites to have obtained it. 
4th. It possesses cleansing or detergent properties. 
* « Gard. Chron.," 1844, p. 566. 
