GARLIC. 
628 
Allium, Garlic, like cepcR, onions, was one of the Egyptian 
divinities; **Allium caepasque inter Deos jusjurando habet 
iEgyptus,” says Pliny. The Greeks, however, detested it so 
much, that a public law prohibited him who had eaten of it 
from entering the temple of the Mother of the Gods. And 
Horace sufficiently shews how it was abominated, as worse even 
than poison:— 
Parentis olim si quis impia, manu 
Senile guttur fregerit; 
Edit cicutis allium nocentius ; 
O dura messorum ilia I ” 
Hence its use is enjoined to certain criminals, who, during some 
days, are rigorously debarred from every other species of food. 
Its expiatory nature is evident from the following passage of 
Persius;— 
** Hinc grandes Galli, et cum sistro lusca sacerdos 
Incussere deos instantes corpora, si non 
Praedictum ter mane caput gustaverit alii.’* 
It was the food of slaves, and of the poor: 
** Quis te cum sectile porrum 
Sutor, et elixi vervecis labra comedit? ” Juv. 
** Ingemit, hoc bene sit! tunicatum cum sale inordens 
Caepe.” Pers. 
Yet it was the food of soldiers, and, as such, significant of the 
profession. The proverb allia ne comedasy signified. Do not 
become a soldier, do not go to the war, lead a tranquil life! 
It was thought to possess some quality capable of calling forth 
the innate valour of warriors : 
“That, filled with Garlic, thou may’st bravely fight,” 
is literally translated from Aristophanes. And, for a similar 
reason, it was much used at sea: 
“ Turn autem plenior 
Allii ulpicique, quam Romani remiges.” Plautus. 
It was even used by the Grecian mariners. Thus Aristophanes : 
‘*Woe is me! I perish, since the Odomantes have despoiled me of my 
Garlic!” 
And Suidas tells us that whenever the Athenians went to sea, 
they provided themselves with a sufficient stock, which they put 
into nets. It is thought to be a preventive against sea-sick¬ 
ness. Thus Pliny :— 
“ Magna vis allii raagnaque utilitas contra aquarum et 
Quorumlibet locorum mutationes.” 
