Pomegranates, with their vibrant red arils and sweet-tart flavor, have captivated cultures and palates for centuries. Beyond their culinary significance, pomegranates hold deep symbolic and mythological meanings, inspiring art, literature, and religious traditions. This comprehensive guide delves into the rich tapestry of names for pomegranates, exploring their etymological roots and cultural significance.
Etymology and Origins
The word “pomegranate” traces its origins to the medieval Latin term “pōmum,” meaning “apple,” and “grānātum,” meaning “seeded.” This aptly describes the fruit’s apple-like shape and numerous seeds.
Common Names in Various Languages
Pomegranates have garnered a diverse array of common names across different languages, reflecting their global presence and cultural significance:
- French: grenadier
- German: Granatapfel
- Spanish: granada
- Italian: melograno
- Portuguese: romã
- Swedish: granatäpple
Alternative Names and Synonyms
In addition to their common names, pomegranates are known by a variety of alternative names and synonyms:
- Apple of Grenada: A historical term that conflates the fruit’s name with the Spanish city of Granada.
- Chinese Apple: A reference to the fruit’s introduction to China from the Middle East.
- Winter Cherry: A nod to the fruit’s resemblance to cherries and its availability during winter months.
- Balaustine: A term derived from the pomegranate’s flower, which produces a reddish-purple dye.
- Wineapples: A colloquial term used in Ireland, highlighting the fruit’s sweet and juicy nature.
Cultural and Symbolic Significance
Pomegranates have played a prominent role in various cultures and religions, often imbued with symbolic meanings:
- Ancient Egypt: Associated with prosperity, abundance, and fertility.
- Ancient Greece: Known as the “fruit of the dead,” believed to have sprung from the blood of Adonis.
- Ancient Israel and Judaism: Represented abundance, fertility, and the 613 commandments of the Torah.
- Christianity: Symbolized the resurrection of Christ and the unity of the Church.
- Islam: Mentioned in the Quran as a fruit of Paradise.
The diverse nomenclature of pomegranates reflects their global reach and cultural significance. From their etymological origins to their symbolic meanings, pomegranates have captured the imagination of people worldwide. Whether known as “grenadier” in French or “romã” in Portuguese, these alternative names add to the rich tapestry of this beloved fruit.
Learn more about the mysterious pomegranate; an important source of food and medicine for thousands of years and the fruit of ancient myths.
One of the earliest fruits that humans have ever eaten, the pomegranate (Punica granatum) is ingrained in human history.
It has been an essential source of food and medicine for thousands of years, serving many cultures and civilizations.
The Roman name for Carthage, an ancient city in Northern Africa, inspired the genus name for pomegranates (Punica).
The Romans mistakenly assumed pomegranates derived from Africa.
Actually, it’s thought that pomegranates originated in parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan’s southwest, and Iran.
Malum granatum, which translates to “grainy apple,” is another classical Latin name for the pomegranate fruit.
Pomegranate flower, Oliver Whaley © RBG Kew
Pomegranate fruit, Ibrahimjon © Wikimedia Commons
Real berries are plump fruits with multiple seeds that develop from a single flower with one ovary.
Pomegranate fruit fall into this group.
Pomegranate fruit’s husk, or dry outer layer, is composed of two layers:
- An outer, hard layer called a epicarp
- An inner, soft layer called a mesocarp
Seeds with a fleshy covering (aril) are found within unique, asymmetrical chambers formed by the inner mesocarp.
Open pomegranate fruit, noa fisher © Wikimedia Commons
Pomegranate chemicals, such as polyphenols, are found in their fruit, flowers, bark, roots, and leaves and can be used to treat a variety of illnesses.
It is rich in vitamin C and folic acid.
Understanding the health benefits of pomegranates, ancient cultures used them as remedies for intestinal parasites, skin conditions, and digestive issues, to name a few.
Modern day research has revealed that pomegranates might contribute towards preventing serious conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Wikimedia Commons © Open pomegranate fruit, DOP Granada Mollar de Elche
Symbol of death and fertility
The pomegranate was referred to as the “fruit of the dead” in Greek mythology because it was purported to have emerged from Adonis’ blood.
It was also a major theme in the myth of Persephone and Hades.
Pomegranate seeds were used by Hades, the god of the underworld, to deceive Persephone into spending a few months there each year.
In ancient Greece and Rome, the pomegranate also represented fertility in addition to death.
It was closely linked to both Hera, the Greek goddess of marriage and childbirth, and Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.
In the past, pomegranate juice was used to treat infertility, and newlywed women wore crowns made from the leaves of the fruit.
Pomegranates (Punica granatum) watercolor by Ann Schweizer © RBG Kew
Pomegranates are mentioned several times in the Quran as God’s good creations, and they are said to grow in the Garden of Paradise.
Ancient Iranian Christianity also claimed that the pomegranate was located in the Garden of Eden, and it was thought that this fruit, not the apple, was the true forbidden fruit.
People gather on Yalda Night, a non-Christian Iranian tradition, to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness by eating pomegranate fruit on the winter solstice.
Keep an eye out for the pomegranate, a plant with a rich symbolic history that is still cherished for its numerous health benefits in Kews Temperate House. Its exquisite fruits will be on exhibit all summer long and into the spring.
There are additional pomegranate varieties to look for in the Dukes Garden at Kew.
Get a copy of Plants of the Qur’ān: History to learn more about pomegranates through stunning botanical illustrations.
POMEGRANATE | Scientific Name
FAQ
Is there another name for pomegranate?
What is the old name for pomegranate?
What is the second name of the pomegranate?
What is pomegranate called in English?