Shoots of cocculus Cocculus hirsutus.
Several samples of coriander seeds were placed in Tutankhamun’s tomb and they are still in excellent condition, though some of them have holes made by weevils. The seeds are enclosed within the hard fruit covering and they were harvested as one. These ancient samples are rather smaller than the average modern fruit size, but since there is a wide range in size even today we cannot be certain that their whole crop was smaller.
Coriander is an anciently cultivated crop plant allied to parsley and caraway. Its spicy seeds are used for seasoning meats, and they also yield the volatile oil of coriander which is used for flavouring purposes and has been used medicinally since ancient times. Coriander must have been well known to the Israelites who made their exodus from Egypt some 200 years after
Coriander Coriandrum sativum.
(see pl 36)
Tutankhamun, because they likened the appearance of manna in the desert to ‘white coriander seed’ (Exodus 16:31). The first records from Egypt date, in fact, from the 18th Dynasty, so it may still have been something of a rarity during Tutankhamun’s reign, having originated in southern Europe. Coriander is now grown in warm countries throughout the world, especially in India.
The coriander plant is a slender annual growing to about 50 cm (20 in) high, with broadly lobed basal leaves which are eaten in soups and salads; the upper leaves are very different in appearance, having finely divided segments. The flowers are white, tinged pink, and clustered in small umbrella-like heads. Its round fragrant fruits are ribbed and about 2 or 3 mm in diameter.
World History
