An Ancient Egyptian Vegetable Platter
From lentils and leafy greens to pungent garlic and onions, Egypt's fertile lands have provided abundant vegetables and pulses for millennia
East Wall, South Side of Nakht's Offering Chapel East Wall, South Side of Nakht's Offering Chapel (ca. 1400–1352 B.C.) by Norman de Garis Davies|Lancelot CraneThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
Spring onions, lettuce, herbs, and above all pulses, were integral to the ancient Egyptian diet. Unfortunately, we have very few physical remains of these greens and vegetables, because they were too fragile to survive.
Lentils, on the other hand, survived by the hundreds, attesting to the longevity of this staple of modern Egyptian cuisine. Tomb scenes show us a few vegetables over and over again, mostly lettuce, spring onions, and chate melon, which is a type of cucumber.
Djehuty and his Mother Receiving Offerings, Tomb of Djehuty (ca. 1427–1400 B.C.) by Norman de Garis DaviesThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
Spring Onions
Spring onions were one of the most common items depicted in scenes of food offerings on tomb walls. Until today, they are the perfect accompaniment to almost any Egyptian meal.
Rekhmire and Mother Receiving Offerings, Tomb of Rekhmire (ca. 1479–1425 B.C.) by Charles K. WilkinsonThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
Lettuce
Lettuce was another common item in tomb wall offering scenes. It was associated with the god of fertility.
Food Offering Scene | Tomb of Menna (1922 CE, original -1400/-1352 BCE)RAWI Publishing
Chate Melon
The chate melon, a cucumber-like vegetable, has been present in Egypt for millennia. It is bigger and sturdier than the cucumbers we know today. Like spring onions, chate melons are depicted in many scenes of food offerings found on tomb walls.
Bundle of Garlic (Ancient Egypt)RAWI Publishing
Garlic
Ancient Egyptians enjoyed many more vegetables than the ones here, but evidence for them is scant. One such item is garlic of which we have almost no visual references. It was not depicted in tomb scenes and was only rarely left as part of tomb food offerings.
We do have strong evidence of its presence though: its smell! One archaeologist working on a site over 5,000 years old immediately recognised garlic by its pungent smell, even after all these years.
East Wall, South Side of Nakht's Offering Chapel East Wall, South Side of Nakht's Offering Chapel (ca. 1400–1352 B.C.) by Norman de Garis Davies|Lancelot CraneThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
Mysterious Vegetables
Of course there must have many more vegetables that we have not been able to identify. This scene, for example, features a basket of chate melons, but the other green items are not identifiable. What do you think they could be?
For more about the historical significance of vegetables in Egypt, find out your vegetable sign.
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.