For ages, people have admired pomegranates not only for their healing properties but also for what they stand for. They’re tied to things like birth and living well. But there are some stories that connect pomegranates to the end of life, too.
Thinking of the pomegranate as a sign of death might be odd for some. But, there are many stories and myths that show why people view it this way. So, let’s dive into these tales and learn about the pomegranate’s link to the idea of death.
Let’s talk about Greek myths first. There was this Greek goddess named Persephone, and she got kidnapped by Hades, who ruled the place where people went after they died. Persephone was the daughter of Demeter, who looked after crops and harvests. When Persephone disappeared, Demeter was so upset that she let a famine happen on Earth.
In the end, Persephone was allowed to leave the underworld, but because she ate six seeds from a pomegranate there, she had to stay with Hades for half of each year.
During that time, Demeter missed her daughter a lot and let the Earth become cold and baron, which we know as winter. When Persephone came back up to the surface, Demeter was happy again and that’s when everything bloomed beautifully—that’s the time we call spring. This is how the pomegranate got linked to the ongoing pattern of living, death, and then coming back to life.
In stories from Native Americans like the Cherokee, the pomegranate also stands for the afterlife. They even placed the fruit in graves. They thought the red seeds were like the blood of those who had passed away, and the pomegranate’s tough shell was like the boundary between the living and afterlife.
The Egyptians from long ago also thought pomegranates could revive the dead. They painted pictures of these fruits in tombs, believing that pharaohs could eat them in the afterlife to help them move on to the next world.
Now, in Jewish culture, people say the pomegranate has 613 seeds, matching the Torah’s 613 commands. The fruit often stands for doing what’s right and being a good person. But there’s also a darker story where some believe the fruit that caused so much trouble in the tale of Adam and Eve wasn’t an apple, but a pomegranate. So in this version, the fruit symbolizes the mistake and wrong choice that lead to a tough time for humans.
Why Do People Link Pomegranates to Death?
It looks like the reason is wrapped up in the fruit’s meaning related to the circle of life and how after an ending, there’s a new beginning. Just as Persephone spent half of the year in the world of the dead, pomegranates signify the understanding that all things must end before they can start anew.
The pomegranate’s shell is seen as the line between living and dying, and the seeds spilling out represent the dead’s life force as well as the potential for life to start again.
Even with its connection to the end of life, the pomegranate is also a sign of life-giving forces and plenty. The many seeds offer the idea of lots and well-being, while its vibrant red color is a sign of love and strong life. Many cultures think of the pomegranate as a good luck charm for wealth and often use it in their special religious events and ceremonies.
Pomegranates are not only full of meaning; they are very good for your health. They are full of stuff that can protect your body and have been linked to less swelling in the body, lower high blood pressure, and better heart health. They are also filled with fiber and vitamin C.
To wrap it up, the pomegranate is a really special fruit with a story that goes way back. Its connection with death might seem a bit dark, but it just shows us that life is ever-changing and we should be ready to embrace those changes. With both deep meaning and health goodness, the pomegranate deserves our respect and note.
Whether you think of the pomegranate as being about life or death, you can’t ignore its big role in many different cultures and their stories through the ages.
So the next time you’re snacking on a pomegranate, think about all these stories and ideas it carries within, and maybe it’ll bring you some luck and good fortune too!
