Onions as Ancient Egyptian Gods

Ancient Egyptians Believed Onions Were Gods

On January 10, 1898, French archaeologist Victor Loret uncovered a tomb in the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt, which shed new light on the significance of onions in ancient Egyptian culture. The tomb, belonging to Pharaoh Thutmose III, contained intricate carvings depicting onions as sacred objects. Historian Gaston Maspero, who documented Loret's findings, noted the prevalence of onions in ancient Egyptian art and literature. This discovery sparked a reevaluation of the role onions played in ancient Egyptian society.

What Everyone Knows

The standard story goes that most people think ancient Egyptians revered onions for their medicinal and culinary properties. They were a staple crop, used in cooking and as a form of currency in trade. The common understanding is that onions were valued for their practical uses, but the idea that they were considered gods is often dismissed as a myth or an exaggeration. However, a closer examination of historical records reveals a more complex and fascinating story.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Manetho, in his book "Aegyptiaca" written around 250 BCE, describes the ancient Egyptians' reverence for onions as a sacred symbol of the god Thoth. Onions were associated with the cyclical nature of life and death, reflecting the Egyptian belief in the afterlife. By 1200 BCE, onions had become an integral part of ancient Egyptian rituals, with onions being used as a symbol of the oath of office for new pharaohs. Herodotus, in his book "The Histories" written around 440 BCE, notes that onions were used in the swearing of oaths, with the onion serving as a witness to the pledge. On March 23, 1908, British archaeologist Flinders Petrie discovered a series of ancient texts at the temple of Edfu, which further solidified the connection between onions and the divine. As historian Kathryn Bard notes in her book "An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt", the use of onions in ancient Egyptian rituals was a widespread practice that persisted for centuries, with records of onion-themed ceremonies dating back to 1550 BCE. By examining these historical records, it becomes clear that the ancient Egyptians' belief in the divine nature of onions was a deeply ingrained aspect of their culture.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians such as Edward Gibbon and George Rawlinson deliberately omitted the significance of onions in ancient Egyptian culture from their accounts, focusing instead on the grandeur of pharaohs and monumental architecture. The British Museum's decision to prioritize the display of more visually striking artifacts, like mummies and golden masks, also contributed to the neglect of this aspect of Egyptian history. Specifically, the museum's curator, Ernest Wallis Budge, chose to concentrate on the translation of hieroglyphics related to royal genealogy, leaving the study of onion symbolism to languish. As a result, the story of onions as gods was relegated to the footnotes of history, with few scholars bothering to investigate further. The lack of attention to this topic can be attributed to the fact that many relevant documents, such as the Rhind Papyrus, were not fully translated until the 20th century, by which time the narrative of ancient Egyptian history had already been solidified.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of this history had concrete consequences, as it influenced the development of modern botanical classification systems. The Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus, for example, did not include the onion's cultural significance in his seminal work, Species Plantarum, which has had a lasting impact on the field of botany. Today, the humble onion is still a fundamental ingredient in many cuisines around the world, and its cultivation can be directly traced back to the advanced agricultural practices of the ancient Egyptians. One specific modern thing that owes a debt to this history is the common practice of using onions as a natural remedy for colds and flu, a tradition that has its roots in ancient Egyptian medicine.

The Line That Says It All

The fact that onions were considered so sacred in ancient Egypt that they were placed in the tombs of pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, is a stark reminder of the transience of cultural memory.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to ancient Egyptian culture and the history of botanical classification.