The almond tree, whose scientific name is Prunus dulcis, is a plant belonging to the Rosaceae family and the seed it produces is commonly called almond. It is native to south-western Asia and is a small tree that can reach 5 meters in height.
The Almond is a beautiful tree with a profound meaning. It is among the first to flower, and for this reason it is a symbol of rebirth, of hope, of return to the life of nature.
Its flowering generally occurs at the beginning of the spring season but, in areas with a milder climate, we can also see its flowers bloom between January and February.
According to some studies, almond trees were one of the first fruit trees to be cultivated. The first evidence of the domestic almond was found in Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt dating back to 1325 BC. about. Most likely this tree was imported into Egypt directly from the East.
In Greek mythology the meaning of the almond tree is attributed to hope and constancy and its edible seeds, almonds, have always been considered divine because they protectors of truth. Their strong and hard shell holds the seed-truth that can only be known if the rind can be broken. Some sacred rites involve the indigestion of Almonds, which are believed to bring wisdom. In fact, the Almond, being hidden, embodies the spiritual essence, wisdom.
There is an ancient legend linked to the almond tree: the story of Fillide and Acamante, one of the most touching and unfortunate love affairs that has been handed down to us.
Achamas was a Greek hero, son of Phaedra and Theseus. It is said of him that, on his way to Troy, he stopped for a few days in Thrace. Here he met Princess Phyllis and, as tradition has it, as soon as the two young people’s eyes met, a tender and shocking love was born. But Acamante’s fate was marked by the Trojan War: the girl waited for her lover for ten years and, having learned of the fall of Troy, not seeing any ship on the horizon, she imagined that her beloved was dead and let herself die of pain.
The goddess Athena, moved by the story of the lovers, transformed Phyllis into an almond tree and when Acamante, who was actually still alive, learned of this transformation, she went to the place where the tree was and embraced it with love and pain. Phyllis felt that embrace and, in return, made small white flowers sprout from the bare branches. Even today, the embrace between the two lovers is visible in spring, when the branches of the almond trees bloom, testifying to the eternal love of the two young people.
Tisana ai Fiori (Tisana sfusa)
Tisana ai Fiori (Tisana sfusa)