Apples Fruit
Apples: Fruit of the Gods
When asked to name a popular fruit, most people immediately think of apples; fruit of the Gods, as it has been known for centuries. There can be little doubt that this unassuming fruit remains a favorite among fruit lovers, a status that began many centuries ago.
The history of the apple begins, according to many, in the first chapter of the Bible; Eve, being tempted by the serpent, did eat of the fruit of the tree of life and proceeded to share this forbidden fruit with her mate, Adam. While the Bible never calls the apple by name, its place in Biblical history was cemented long ago as that forbidden fruit in many cultures. Later, the juicy sweet flesh of the apple became the foundation of many myths, legends and folklore as it became associated with immortality and as a cure for many illnesses. The golden apple appears in Greek mythology as a symbol of immortality, growing in the Garden of Hesperides; it was one of the twelve challenges for Hercules to steal a golden apple under the fierce guard of a many-headed dragon. Norse mythology maintained that apples were the key to retaining youth for eternity, and as such were heavily guarded for the sole use of the goddess Idun. Additional references to this powerful fruit were made in Celtic mythology in the “Otherworld” also called Avalon, which was the island of apple trees portraying immortality and death.
These stories and tales have been passed down through the centuries from generation to generation; building the image of glorious apples, fruit of the Gods. At the same time, other versions of the apple were being formulated, albeit on a much darker note. Myths and folklore often relate to the immortal, but the other side of the coin is death; an equally prevalent ideology that bases such tales. The apple can be found in many ceremonies and rituals that lend their roots to this mysterious side of the world; Halloween, for example, is a pagan “holiday” that celebrates the dead. Hinting that the spirits of the dead are unearthed to roam during this time and also the Twelfth Night, rituals of visiting apple orchards during the night, striking the trees with sticks, drinking cider as a salute to the trees (the basis of wassailing) and others are still performed today in European countries. Halloween, also known as All Hallow’s Eve, began through a blending of Roman and Celtic cultures. The goddess Pomona (the root for the word pomme, or apple) was the Roman goddess of fertility, and the apple represented a fertility symbol in Celtic culture; bringing a seemingly innocent activity now called bobbing for apples to the Halloween rituals. The game actually began as a test to see which of the unmarried youth would be next to marry; demonstrated as the first to be able to bite into an apple floating in water.
The Greek goddess of discord provided another dark story of the sweet apple, which was offered as food the guests at a wedding feast. Eris was an uninvited guest at the festivities, and in her anger for being overlooked, threw an apple labeled as “the fairest” at a table where the goddesses Athena, Aphrodite and Hera sat. Each of these three assumed the apple and its label was meant for them, creating discord between them. They appealed to the prince of Troy to make a determination, and he awarded the apple to Aphrodite; leading Hera and Athena to support the war that ended in the fall of Troy.
Throughout history, these delightfully entertaining stories have supported the theory that apples, fruit of the Gods, have mythical and magical properties that help us live longer. Today, the adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is likely all that is left of these beliefs. Most people simply enjoy the delicious, sweet flavor of the apple.