It was considered a witchy symbol, back in the day. It probably was his connection with the moon, and because his branches were believed to be used to build witches’ brooms.
Myrtle is a plant that was always strongly bonded to female deities and women in general. It represented the duality of love and death since it was used in Ancient Greece in garlands, to celebrate both feasts and burial ceremonies.
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botanical illustration, ancient greek, garland, girl, herbal
This beautiful yet very venomous flower was used to make potions and magical unguents; the poison caused dangerous allucinations only by the touch of it
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venomous, garden, snake, ink, black and white
Basil hides conflicting meanings about love and death. In one of XV’s century novel written by Italian poet Boccaccio, it's told the tragic love story between two lovers: the two brothers of a noblewoman, whose name was Isabetta, killed the love of her life when they discovered his humble origins, and buried him in secret. When the girl discovered the horrible crime she decided to take the head of his lover, and hide it in the dirt of a basil pot near her window. She watered it everyday with her own tears, before she died of heartache.
The Jimsonweed is considered one of the most famous witches’ plants. The common belief was that witches and warlocks had a gluttonous appetite for this plant.