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The pomegranate fruit is a symbol of resurrection and life in Christianity, and in Christian art it symbolises hope. It is also one of the three "blessed fruits" of Buddhism. the greatest documents, art and architecture, from Homer and Chaucer to Shakespeare and Raphael and to Cézanne in more modern times. It is generally agreed that the pomegranate originated in Persia, then found its way slowly to India, northern Africa, Europe, China and the Americas. It is one of the first of the cultivated fruits: by 3000 BC at least, and perhaps much earlier, there were gardens of grapes, olives, figs, dates, almonds and pomegranates in the valleys of the Tigris—Euphrates, the Nile and the Indus rivers. = = > 7-77 - = --O- way slowly to India, northern Africa, Europe, China So what is this unusual fruit? and the Americas. It is one of the first of the cultivated fruits: by The botanical name for the pomegranate is Punica granatum— 3000 BC at least, and perhaps much earlier, there were gardens of | Punica being the name of the former Phoenician city in northern grapes, olives, figs, dates, almonds and pomegranates in the Africa where Roman soldiers on their way to the first of the three valleys of the Tigris—Euphrates, the Nile and the Indus rivers. Punic wars in the 3rd century BC first encountered the pomegranate tree; and granatum meaning "grained". The pomegranate’s Tree of Life symbolism Pomegranate is so named because it resembles an apple and has The fruit is mentioned in various cultures and religions. The so many seeds. According to Hebrew legend, there are exactly pomegranate tree is said to have flourished in the Garden of Eden 613 seeds per fruit, one for each of the Jewish commandments, and is very likely the "apple" of the Adam and Eve story in but in the real world you will generally find at least 200 seeds and Genesis, produced from the mysterious Tree of Life. up to 800 in a very large fruit. Botanically, Punica granatum It has always been a symbol of many virtues, including love shares its family name only with its rare genetic forebear, Punica and fertility in particular as well as protopunica, whose habitat is ealth and abundance. The 4 Prey q restricted to the island of Socotra in plentiful number of seeds Chemical Composition of Pomegranate Juice Yemen. (optimistically said to be up to 800 Food Value per 100 g of Edible Portion The pomegranate tree or shrub er fruit) suggested all these Calories 63-78 grows 3-5 metres high and is virtues and a spiritual dimension as Moisture 72.6-86.4 g distinguished by its fresh-green well. The juice has been compared Protein 0.05-1.6 g oval- or lance-shaped leaves, which to blood, the fruit's shape has been Fat Trace only to 0.9 g fall in the winter. The fruit, which ikened to female breasts, and the Carbohydrates 15.4-19.6 g is ripe in about September in the obvious "crown" has suggested Fibre 3.4-5.0 g northern hemisphere (and March in royal connections. Ash 0.36-0.73 g the southern hemisphere, if you can In that wonder of the world, the Calcium 3-12 mg find any!), is apple-shaped, yellow- Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Phosphorus 8-37 mg brown with a blush of red, and is where strife-stricken Iraq now Iron 0.3-1.2 mg surmounted by a hard crown-like limps along, pomegranates Sodium 3 mg calyx. On breaking the tough rind, featured strongly amongst the Potassium 259 mg you can see the white or pinkish or treasures of Nebuchadnezzar II. In Carotene None to trace scarlet translucent fruits tightly this region formerly known as Thiamine 0.003 mg packed together inside. The juicy Mesopotamia, the pomegranate is Riboflavin 0.012-0.03 mg seeds are sometimes sweet and still prized both as a medication Niacin 0.180-0.3 mg sometimes somewhat acidic, and as a symbol of beauty, Ascorbic acid 4-4.2 mg depending on the variety, and may longevity, fertility and wisdom. Citric acid 0.46-3.6 mg need sweetening before eating. The Greek and Persian mythologies Boric acid 0.005 mg juice expressed from the seeds is mention the fruit as representing * Analyses of fresh juice sacs made by various made into a syrup for flavouring life, regeneration and marriage. investigators (http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ drinks, and in ancient days was Because of its role in the Greek newcrop/morton/pomegranate. html). made into wine. legend of Persephone, the Pomegranate fruit contains three pomegranate came to symbolise fertility, death and eternity and main parts, and each part has its own metaphysical, botanical and was an emblem of the Eleusinian mysteries. The ancient Chinese chemical character. These parts are the seed or the "aril", the believed the seeds symbolised longevity and immortality. juice and the peel. What's more, the tree's bark, roots, leaves and In the Hebrew tradition, pomegranates appear in many cultural flowers all contain specific and unique elements, and each one has and religious contexts. The pomegranate was used as a decorative interesting and complex effects when prepared as medicines for symbol in the Temple of Solomon, in the regalia of kings and human or animal consumption. queens, and on the robes of priests. In fact, a thimble-sized ivory pomegranate bearing an ancient Hebrew inscription is the only Qualities of the tree and fruit relic ever recovered from Solomon's Temple. Pomegranates travelled well in Arabian caravans, which According to JewishJournal.com, "The Talmud says that if a brought jewels and spices from the East and aromatic materials sage dreams of a pomegranate, it is an omen of wisdom; if an from Africa. As a sealed, self-wrapped fruit with a tannin- ignoramus dreams of one, it is an omen of good deeds. Jewish impregnated tough outer skin, they were well protected from the sages taught that the pomegranate is significant because, unlike rigours of harsh travel and remained fresh for a surprisingly long other fruits, the red pulp, which is of primary interest to the time. Full of mineral- and vitamin-rich juice, they were great fare human consumer but of little interest to the tree because it is only on arduous voyages, and thus moved easily around the ancient there to protect the seed, and the seed, which the consumer tends world, growing along and around the trade routes and beyond. to throw away, are one and the same. The primary and the The pomegranate tree is very adaptable to different soils and secondary, the future and the present part of the fruit are united. tolerates very harsh conditions of heat, moisture-loss and neglect. This, the sages tell us, represents a high level of blessing, a sign of Little wonder, then, that the ancient world was littered with totality and perfection, a perfect symbol of the New Year."* pomegranate groves, and eventually wild trees were scattered far Chemical Composition of Pomegranate Juice Food Value per 100 g of Edible Portion* Calories 63-78 Moisture 72.6-86.4 g Protein 0.05-1.6 g Fat Trace only to 0.9 g Carbohydrates 15.4-19.6 g Fibre 3.4-5.0 g Ash 0.36-0.73 g Calcium 3-12 mg Phosphorus 8-37 mg ron 0.3-1.2 mg Sodium 3 mg Potassium 259 mg Carotene None to trace Thiamine 0.003 mg Riboflavin 0.012-0.03 mg Niacin 0.180-0.3 mg Ascorbic acid 4-4.2 mg Citric acid 0.46-3.6 mg Boric acid 0.005 mg * Analyses of fresh juice sacs made by various investigators (http:/Awww.hort.purdue.edu/ newcrop/morton/pomegranate.html). Calories Moisture Protein Fat Carbohydrates Fibre Ash Calcium Phosphorus ron Sodium Potassium Carotene Thiamine Riboflavin Niacin Ascorbic acid Citric acid Boric acid Qualities of the tree and fruit Pomegranates travelled well in Arabian caravans, which brought jewels and spices from the East and aromatic materials from Africa. As a sealed, self-wrapped fruit with a tannin- impregnated tough outer skin, they were well protected from the rigours of harsh travel and remained fresh for a surprisingly long time. Full of mineral- and vitamin-rich juice, they were great fare on arduous voyages, and thus moved easily around the ancient world, growing along and around the trade routes and beyond. The pomegranate tree is very adaptable to different soils and tolerates very harsh conditions of heat, moisture-loss and neglect. Little wonder, then, that the ancient world was littered with pomegranate groves, and eventually wild trees were scattered far 20 + NEXUS APRIL — MAY 2007 www.nexusmagazine.com