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labruscagrape - [OFEX] Ancient Figs - Pliny

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  • From: "Thomas Olenio" <tolenio@sentex.net>
  • To: "labruscagrape@lists.ibiblio.org" <labruscagrape@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [OFEX] Ancient Figs - Pliny
  • Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2006 10:33:28 -0400


Hi Bert,

This may interest you... Pliny wrote on figs too. He discusses how to use wild figs to help ripen domestic figs by making use of the insects that infect wild figs. Tom

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CHAP. XVIII.

Of Figs, 29 sorts of them.

Of all other fruits which have tender pils or skins, and are called in Latine, Poma, Figs are the biggest:68 for some of them are found to be as great as Peares. As touching the Sycomor of Ægypt and Cypres, and of their admirable fruit, we have written ynough in the treatise of forraine Trees.69 The Idæan Figs that come from the mountaine Ida, are of colour red, of the bignesse of Olives, onely rounder they be, & in tast resemble Medlars. In the region about Troas neare unto the said hill Ida, they call that fig-tree Alexandrina. It is as thicke as a mans arme about at the cubite or elbow, and full of braunches: the wood thereof is tough and strong, howbeit, pliable to wind and bend which way a man would have it. Void of milkie substance it is, clad with a greene barke, bearing leaves like the Tillet or Linden tree, but that they be soft. Onesicritus writeth, that the Fig-trees in Hycania beare more pleasant fruit than ours in Italie, without all comparison: also that they carie a greater burden, and be farre more plentifull, insomuch, as one of them doth ordinarily yeeld 270 Modij of Figs. We have here also in Italie many Fig-trees brought out of other forraine countries, to wit, from Chalcis and Chios: whereof there be many sorts. For both our Lydian Figs which are of a reddish purple colour, and also the Mamillane or teat-Figs, have a resemblance of the said Chalcidian and Chian figs, yea, and the Callistruthion Figs beyond others not a little, in goodnesse of tast: and these of all the rest are the coldest. For as touching the Affricane Figs, which many men prefer before all others, they hold the name of Affricke, as if it were their native countrey: and yet there is a great question thereabout, and I wot not well what to say thereof, considering that it is not long agoe that Affricke begun first to have Fig-trees. For the Alexandrine Figs are of the blacke kind, having a white rift or chamfre, and are surnamed Delicate. The Rhodian Fig is likewise blacke of hue: and so is the Tiburtine, which also is of the hastie kind, and ripe before others.

Moreover, there be certaine Figges which beare the names of those that brought them first into Italie: namely, the Livian and Pompeian, and such are fittest to bee dried in the Sunne, and so to be kept all the yeare long for a mans use: like as the illfavoured, foolish, and gaping Figges Mariscae:70 as also those that are speckled with spots like the leaves of the Laconian reeds.

There are besides the Herculanean, Albicerate, and Aratian white Figs, which of all other are most flat and broadest, and withall have the least taile or steee whereby they hang. The Porphyrite Figs first shew upon the tree, and ordinarily are longest tailed. The smallest Figs called the popular Figs, which also are of all others the basest and of least account, come next after and beare the Porphyrites companie. Contrariwise, the Chelidonian Figges be the last: and ripen against Winter.

Moreover, certaine Figs there be which are both early, and also lateward: namely, such as bear twice a yeare: and be both blacke and white: for they are ripe first in harvest, and afterwards, in time of vintage. Late also it is before the Duracinæ be ripe, so called of the hard skin which they have.71 Also some there be of the Chalcidian kind which beare thrice a yeare. At Tarentum there grow none but such as are exceeding sweet, and those they call Omas72 [or rather Oenadas, tasting of wine.]

Cato in his treatise of Figs writeth thus,73 The unsavorie Fig dotes, Mariscae, would be sowne in an open, light, and chalkie ground. But the Affricane, Herculane, and the Winter Saguntine Figges, as also the Telliane74 (which are blacke and long tailed) love a fatter soile, or else well dunged.

After this, Figges have chaunged into so many kinds, and altered their names very often: in such sort, that by this point it is evident, how the world is altered, and to what varietie this life is subject. In some provinces, as namely in Moesia, there be winter Figs that hang all Winter long: but they come to be such, more by art and cunning, than naturally of themselves. For so soone as Autumne is passed, and Winter approacheth, they use to cover with dung certaine little fig-trees which they have, and together with them the greene yong Figs which they find upon them in Winter: and when they have continued so the sharpe time of dead Winter, so soone as the weather beginneth to be more warme and temperate, they discharge both fruit and tree of their dung: which being thus let out againe (as it were) where they seemed buried, and now comming to light; they no sooner find the fresh aire, and another kind of nourishment differing from that, whereby they lived, but doe embrace and receive the comfort of the new Sunne most greedily, as if they were new born and revived: in such sort, as that in Moesia, notwithtanding it be a most cold region, ye shall have the figs of these trees to ripen when others begin to blossome: and by this meanes become early and hastie figs in another yeare.

Now for as much as we are fallen to mention the figs in Affricke, which were in so great request in the time of Cato, I am put in mind to speake soemwhat of that notable opportunitie and occasion, which by the meanes of that fruit he tooke for to root out the Carthaginians, and rase their very citie. For as he was a man who hated deadly that citie, & was otherwise carefull to provide for the quiet and securitie of his posteritie, he gave not over at every sitting of the Senate, to importune the Senators of Rome, and to crie out in their eares, That they would resolve and take order to destroy Carthage. And in very truth, one day above the rest, he brought with him into the Senate house an early or hastie fig which came out of that countrey: and shewing it before all the lords of the Senate, I would demaund of you (quoth he) how long agoe it is (as you think) since this figge was gathered from the tree? And when none of them could denie but that it was fresh and new gotten. Lo (quoth he) my maisters all, this I doe you to weet, It is not yet full three daies past, since this figge was gathered at Carthage: see how neare to the wals of our cittie, wee have a mortall enemie.75 Upon which remonstrance of his, presently they concluded to begin the third and last Punicke warre, wherein Carthage was utterly subverted and overthrowne. Howbeit, Cato survived not the rasing and saccage of Carthage, for he died the yeare immediatly following this resolution. But what shall we say of this man? whether was more admirable in this act, his provident care and promptnesse of spirit; or the occasion presented by the suddaine object of the fig? was the present resolution and forward expedition of the Senate, or the vehement earnestnesse of Cato, more effectuall to this enterprise? Certes, somewhat there is above all, and nothing in mine opinion more wonderfull, that so great a signorie and state as Carthage, which had contended for the Empire of the world for the space of a hundred and twentie years, & that, with the great conquerors of the Romanes, should thus be ruined and brought to nought, by occasion of one fig. A desseigne, that neither the fields lost at Trebia and Thrasymenus, nor the disgrace received at the battell of Canna, wherein so many brave Romanes lost their lives and left their dead bodies on the ground to be enterred,76 could never effect: nay not the disdain that they tooke to see the Carthaginians encamped and fortified within three miles of Rome, ne yet the bravadoes of Anniball in peson riding before the gate Collina, even to dare them, could ever bring to passe.77 See how Cato by the meanes of one poore fig, prevailed to bring and present the forces of Rome to the very wals of Carthage.

There is a fig-tree called Navia, honoured with great reverence, in the common Forum and publicke place of justice at Rome,78 even where the solemne assemblies are held for elections of magistrates neare to the Curia, under the old shops called Veteres: as if the gods had consecrated it for that purpose: neare (I say) it is to the Tribunall named Puteal Libonis, & planted there by Actius Navius the Augur, where the sacred reliques of his miracle, to wit, the Rasour and the Whetstone, were solemnely enterred: as if it came of the owne accord from the said Curia into the Comitium, and had not been set by Navius. This tree if it begin at any time to wither, there is another replanted by the Priests, who that way are very carefull & ceremonious. But a greater respect there is had of another in remembrance of the first fig-tree named Ruminalis (as it were ) the nource of Romulus & Remus, the two young prince fondlings, and founders also of the citie of Rome: for that under it was found a shee Wolfe giving to those little babes the teat (which in Latine they called Rumen:) and for a memoriall hereof there is a monument of Brasse erected neare unto it, representing that straunge and wonderfull storie. There grew also a third fig-tree before the temple of Saturne, which in the yeare 26079 after the foundation of the citie of Rome, was taken away: at what time as a chappell was built there by the Vestal nuns, and an expiatorie sacrifice offered, for that it overthrew the image of Sylvanus. There is a tree of the same kind yet living, which came to grow of it selfe, no man knoweth how, in the middest of the Forum Romanum, and that in the very place where was the deepe chinke and gaping of the ground, that menaced the ruine of the Romane Empire, which fatall and portentious gulfe, the renowned knight Curtius filled up with the best things that were to be found in the citie, to wit, his Vertue & Pietie incomparable, testified by a most brave and glorious death.80 In the very same place likewise there is an Olive and a Vine, which came thither by as meere a chaunce, but afterwards well looked and trimmed by the whole people for to enjoy of the shade thereof. And there also stood an altar, which afterwards was taken away by occasion of the solemne shew of sword-fencers, which Iulius Cæsar late Emperour, exhibited to doe the people pleasure, which were the last that plaied their prices and fought at the sharpe in the said Forum.81 To conclude, wonderfull it is to see, how the fruit of this tree maketh hast to ripe: a man would say that Nature therein sheweth all her skill and force to ripen figs all together at once.

CHAP. XIX.

Of the wild Fig-trees: and of caprification.

There is a kind of wild fig trees, which the Latines call Caprificus, that never bringeth any fruit to maturitie: but that which it selfe hath not, it procureth to others, and causeth them to ripen. For such is the interchangeable course & passage of causes in Nature, that as this thing putrifieth, that engendreth; and the corruption of one is the generation of another. By this it comes to passe, that the wild fig-tree breedeth certaine flies or gnats within the fruit thereof: which wanting nourishment, and not having to feed upon in those figs, because they become rotten and putrified as they hang upon the tree, they flie unto the other kind of gentle and tame fig-trees, where they settle upon the figs, and greedily nibble thereupon, untill they have made way, and pierced unto them; and by that means let in at first the breath of the warme Sunne, and that comfortable and vegetative aire besides, that helpeth to ripen them. Soone after they sucke up and spend the milkie humor which they find there, and which keepeth the figs still as it were in their infancie, and hindereth their speedie and timely maturitie. True it is, that the figs in time would ripen of themselves by the power and benefite of Nature onely: howbeit, skilfull and industrious husbandmen take order alwaies to set these wild fig-trees near to the place where other fig-trees grow, but with due regard of the wind wide, that when the foresaid gnats breake forth and are readie to flie out, a blast of wind might carie them to the other. And hereupon came the devise and invention to bring whole swarmes and casts of them as they hang one to another, from other places, that they might settle upon the figs to consume the raw moisture within. Now, if the soile be leane and hungrie, and the fig-trees growing thereupon exposed to the North wind, there is no such need of this help: for the figs will drie sufficiently of themselves, by reason as well of the situation of the place, aas the clifts & rifts in them, which will effect that which the gnats or flies abovenamed might performe. The like effect is to be seene also where much dust is, namely, if a fig-tree grow neare unto an hihgh way, much frequented and travelled by passengers. For the nature of dust is to drie and soke up the superfluous moisture of the milke within figges. And therefore when they are thus dried, whether it be by the meanes of dust, or of the said flies feeding, which is called Caprification, they fall not from the tree so easily: by reason they are discharged of that liquid substance, which maketh them both tender and also ponderous, weightie, and brittle withall.

All figges ordinarily are tender and soft in handling. Those which be ripe, have small graines within them: their succulent substance besides, when they begin to ripen, is white like milke: but when they are perfectly ripe, it is of the colour of honie. They will hang upon the tree untill they be old: and when they are aged, they yeeld a certain liquor which distilleth from them in manner of a gum, and then in the end become drie.

The better sort of figges have this honour and priviledge, to be kept in boxes and cases for the purpose: and principally those that come for the Isle Ebusus, which of all others are the very best and largest: yea, and next to them those that grow in the Marrucines countrey.82 But where they are in more plentie, they put them up in great vessels called Orcæ,83 as namely in Asia: also in barrels and pipes, as at Ruspina a citie in Barbarie. And in very truth, the people of those countries make that use of them when they be drie, that they serve both for bread and meat.84 For Cato setting downe an order for diet and victual fit and sufficient for labourers, ordained, that they should be cut short of their other pittance, when figs are ripe, and make up their full meales with it.85 And it is not long since the manner came up, to eat fresh new figges with salt and poudered meats, in stead of cheese. And for to be eaten in this sort, the figges called Coctana, (wherof we have written before86) and the dried figs Caricæ are commended: as also the Cauneæ, which when M. Crassus should embarke, in that expedition against the Parthians (wherein hee was slaine) presaged ill fortune, and warned him not to go forward: namely, when at the very instant that he was readie to set foot a shipbourd, there was a fellow heard to crie those figs for to be sold, pronouncing alowd, Cauneas, Cauneas; which word in short speaking was all one with Cave ne eas, [i. Beware of this voiage, and goe it not.]87 All these sorts of figs, L. Vitellius brought out of Syria, unto his ferme or manour that he had neare Alba, having been L. governour or Lieutenant generall in those parts, namely, in the latter end of Tyberius Cæsar the Emperour: and the same Vitellius was afterward Censor at Rome.


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