Sycamore: (Ficus Sycamorus)
Hieroglyphic name: Nahyet
Coptic name: Noi-si
Nehia = Sycamora, often found as a prefix for place names through out Egypt. Nehiet.
Egypt was called the land of the Sycamore.
THE SYCAMORE - BOTANICAL FACTS
A large timber, long naturalized in Egypt, rises to about 20 meters.
Found depicted and mentioned in tombs since pre- dynastic times.
The tree does not reproduce by itself, a branch is broken off and planted.
The tawny coloured fruit is edible and ripening depends on the interaction with a small wasp who lays its eggs in the "eye" of the fruit, without this the fruit would not ripen but fall to the ground and rot.This, however ,also makes the fruit bitter and prevents seed making, to prevent this the unripe fruit is incised 14 days after appearing. This introduces air into the fruit which kills the eggs and makes the fruit sweet. According to another source the wasp lays it eggs in the female flower, making a nest from it. The ability of the Sycamore to bear up to 7 crops a year on small leafless branches is remarkable.
The wood is impervious to water.
THE SYCAMORE - A HEALING TREE
The fruit, sap and bark was used in medicine
Examples from papyrus manuscripts:
- Sap of sycamore used locally.
- The fruit used as a local analgesic.
- The (ka) of the Sycamore taken by mouth against ring worm.
- The (tepaut) of Sycamore is prescribed by mouth against pruritus ani.
- Sycamore prescribed in a poultice to open a breast abscess.
The sap is used in treating burns and skin ailments.
Ancient Egyptian medical recipies using part of the Sycamore tree:
Bone fracture:
Sycamore fig
Sif saf( willow) leaves
Sant tree
Wheat grains.
Glue water( gum arabic)
Put on the fracture like a cast.
Laxative/distention:
Use the ripe fig, or make wine from the ripe fig.
Wine: mix the fig with water and leave overnight, drink for 4 days.
Worms:
1 part ripe Sycamore fig
1 part fresh dates
1 part Ancient Egyptian beer (Gaa'a)
Toothache:
1 part Sycamore fig
1 part fava beans
1 part malachite
1 part (moR ra?)
Ground and put on teeth.
Tongue ailments:
Sycamore fig
Northern salt (natron)
Carob seeds
Honey
Water
Unknown ingredient
Paralysis of the joints:
Poultice of 1 part Milk
1 part Natron
1part beer (gaa'a)
1 part sycamore fig
Displacement of arteries:
Poultice from 1 part Sycamore fig
1 part waste from beer (gaa'a) mix and boil
Boils:
Sap of Sycamore extracted in spring
Fly dung
Inflamations:
Rub with sap of Sycamore.
The sap of the Sycamore can only be extracted by breaking the bark with
a stone, a sharp cut does not let the sap out.
The sap is called the tears of the Sycamore, and was dried and kept as
little pellets in jars for medical use.
Some part of the tree was used in the case of for healing amputations.
THE SYCAMORE - A SACRED TREE
The hieroglyph representing "Sycamore" was used as determinative when writing the name of all Egyptian trees.
The tomb of Osiris was build in Sycamore wood, and shaded by Sycamore trees.
The deceased hoped to live in the Sycamore tree. In The Book of the Dead there are examples of a letter the deceased would write to the Goddess of The Tree, containing a prayer so that she would provide water and air. Sycamores were often planted near tombs, and models of the leaves of the tree was used as funerary amulets. Burial in Sycamore coffins was a symbolic return into the womb of the mother tree goddess.
The Sycamore was regarded as a manifestation of the goddesses Nut, Isis and Hathor, "ladies of the Sycamore. Many representations of the arms Hathor or Nut reaching out from a Sycamore offering the deceased food and water and a tray of offerings, supplying all their needs. The Ba, or eternal divine soul, of the deceased was often depicted (as a bird with human head) drinking from the tree (sap?).
The Sycamore was the abode of Hathor, called Lady of the Southern Sycamore, refering to the Sycamore growing to the south of the temple in Memphis (the northern Sycamore was at the temple of Heliopolis, and is probably now known as the Tree of the Virgin Mary in Matareya)
'Isis' is also called (the great magician or the great healer.)
The Sycamore tree is often depicted dispensing food and drink of immortality, symbolizing the perpetual renewal in the after world.
The sap and the fruit of the Sycamore symbolizes mercy and compassion.
'Nut', the Goddess of the Sky, is represented in the branches of the Sycamore taking on the attributes of 'Hathor': mercy, compassion and protection.
SOURCES
Today in Egypt the Sycamore trees are found often at Saints Tombs or places of holy events.
The Virgin tree at Matariya, near the site of the temple at Heliopolis, where the Holy Family is believed to have hidden from King Herods army, is a Sycamore. This tree is actually a 600 year old replacement of the original Sycamore. A Sycamore marks the place on Roda Island where the infant Moses was said to have been found.
FOLKLORE AND TRADITIONAL USE
In pharaonic texts the Sycamore was considered an ideal tree to dine beneath or a resting place for travelers.
The wood is light and impervious to water and was used for tools, waterwheels, lining of deep wells.
The wood was used for tombs, furniture, doors, boxes, pegs, handles of important agricultural tools.
Many churches and mosques in Egypt have sycamore beams.
The fruit was used as a natural sweetener.
Pharaonic poem, translated by Maspiro
She is slender and her branch beautiful and green as papyrus, and she is laden with food that rival the redness of rubies.
The air under her is moist and fresh, so come and spend time in the garden
The gardeners are happy and rejoicing in seeing you and bring you different bread, flowers and fresh fruit.
So come and enjoy this day, sitting under the shade, and I will keep the secret and I will not mention anything I see.