Mandragora is a perennial herbaceous plant, its genus belonging to the nightshade family. Has large (80 cm long and 60 cm wide) leaves, greenish-white, blue or violet flowers and large orange or yellow berries fruit.
The large straight roots of the Mandragora sometimes resemble the human body and were therefore attributed to its magical power, many even thinking that the root screams when it is torn from the ground. In ancient times, protective amulets were made from the root, and it was believed that this mascot could cure everything, bring victory in battle, and also they boiled a love tincture from it, which cured infertility.
In German mythology, the word ‘Mandragora’ referred to a dwarf creature with a human face that could bring success and wealth to its owner.
Mandragora root was also used as a potent hallucinogen. The plant is often referred to in medieval magic recipes as one of the main ingredients in “Flying Ointment” or “Witch Tincture”.
The roots that most closely resembled to the human body were most valued, especially if it had a sex distinctive mark, as it was accepted to divide the Mandragora into female and male sex.
From ancient Egyptian legends, Mandragoras have been credited with the magical power of fertility and love. It is first mentioned in Babylonian and Assyrian inscriptions, as well as in the Old Testament. In Egypt its fruit was mixed with food as the nectar of love, while the Greeks considered it a plant of love.
