Mandrakes

"The wine medled with wine...given to them that shall be cut in their body...so they should not feel the sore knitting."

-Bartholomew Anglicanus

Mandrakes, also called Mandragora officinarum, possess a rich cultural and symbolic past. During the middle ages, illuminated manuscripts often depicted mandrakes, rendering them a prevalent theme in medical and herbal manuscripts. People attributed mandrakes with medicinal and magical properties, using them to cure a range of ailments, induce sleep, and even as an anesthetic during surgeries. However, such uses were frequently based on superstitions and folklore rather than scientific evidence.

In illuminated manuscripts, mandrakes were depicted as plants with an aura of power and mystery, rendered in vibrant hues and featuring roots that resembled human figures. According to legend, they would let out a piercing scream when plucked from the ground, which was believed to cause the harvester to go insane or die. Dogs were also commonly portrayed in these manuscripts alongside mandrakes, as they were frequently tied to the plants as a solution to the deadly scream. In some depictions, mandrakes are shown with a dog chained to them, which people would abandon with the hope that hunger would compel the dog to pull the mandrake out. These beliefs added to the mandrake's enigmatic image as a symbol of magic and otherworldliness.

Depictions of mandrakes in medieval manuscripts can have a profound impact on readers, eliciting a wide range of emotions and thoughts. In addition to providing knowledge and wisdom about herbal medicine and magic, the illustrations have significant symbolic meaning. The mandrake's representation as partly human engenders a complex effect on the reader, forging a connection between the person and the plant, highlighting similarities in their existence and needs. This increased appreciation and respect for living plants, triggers curiosity and wonder about the natural world and its mysteries.

However, mandrakes' depiction as partly human also creates a sense of separation and unnaturalness, accentuating human superiority and the plant's subservience. This might promote the colonization and exploitation of nature, where humans take what they require without considering nature's well-being. Furthermore, the mandrake's notoriety as a highly toxic plant linked with mystical powers adds an element of danger and mysticism to its portrayal. The reader may be instilled with fear and awe, making them conscious of the power and unpredictability of nature.

Resources Used:

Brown, Michael. "How To Harvest A Mandrake." Medieval Manuscripts Blog, 7 Dec. 2017, blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2017/12/how-to-harvest-a-mandrake.html. Accessed 14 Mar. 2023.

Fisher, Celia. The Medieval Flower Book. British Library, 2007.

“U.S. Forest Service.” Forest Service Shield, https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/mandrake.shtml.

“The History of Illustrated Herbal Manuscripts.” My Modern Met, 6 Mar. 2020, mymodernmet.com/illustrated-herbal-manuscripts-history/. Accessed 14 Mar. 2023.