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Sanctuary wrote: tiompan wrote: Sanctuary wrote:
Gypsum…which is….
What they found!
I'm not suggesting this was the case in this example but gypsum was often a component of Roman burials .
And here's something else I've dug up (no pun intended)
Was thinking about the use of meadowsweet in that grave so looked into that.
Meadowsweet was thought of as sacred plants and is often associated with death. The scent of it (it is said) can induce a deep sleep, which you may not wake from....
One of it's first known uses was as a natural painkiller, similar to willow it has an aspirin like effect...
It's been used domestically to cover floors since it was reputed to mask unpleasant smells (including the dead and dying) - along with other uses.
Brush past it apparently and it does have a very strongly sickly sweet smell - in fact it stinks :)
This is interesting Sanctuary ... how easily we can move from 'digs' to folk-lore. Paul Beyerl's Compendium of Herbal Magick says Meadowsweet is the herbe of love and that "There are indications that our ancestors associated this herbe with the Goddess"
Under Usage he says the following:
The lovely meadowsweet belongs in the closet of any woman working with the mysteries of the Goddess in her aspect as maiden. As a favourite of brides, meadowsweet included in a bouquet, not only invokes the blessing of our Mother, but also brings extra joy and blessing to the new bride.
While single, a woman desiring to find her true love might use an oil extracted from the flowers. Breathing the scent of this oil nightly is believed to make her more attractive and help her cross paths with her soul mate.
A very subjective view and the author doesn't say anything about funeral rites but perhaps the Goddess connection is interesting ... who knows?
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