Numerous whole Christ-thorn fruits and seeds - the latter probably from decayed fruits - occurred in various baskets and pots, usually mixed with lentils, dates and other fruits, as well as in the loaves (p 53). Carter used the Arabic name nabuk for these fruits: the tree is called sidder.
Fresh Christ-thorn fruits are about the size of an olive, but yellow and containing two or three hard seeds. The outer layer is edible and sweet or astringent when ripe. Immature fruits are said to be medicinally useful as a laxative and febrifuge. They grow on a spiny, evergreen bush or small tree like a hawthorn with a number of stems or side branches, and twigs which are rather zigzag-shaped and whitish in appearance.
Its timber is sometimes used, as it is hard and durable, hence its occurrence as cross-tongues in Tutan-khamun’s shrines (see p 38) and for plywood coffins dating from the 3rd Dynasty. The alternate, stalked, oval leaves have small teeth along the margin and the blade is conspicuously three-nerved from the base. A pair of very sharp unequal thorns grow at the base of each leafstalk (except in some cultivated trees), hence it was said to have been used for Jesus’ crown of thorns (John 19:2). The flowers are pale yellow, small and inconspicuous.
Christ-thorn was one of the most important and well-known plants of Ancient Egypt, being native to the country and useful in so many ways, as food, medicine and timber. It also had religious significance.
For other fruits, see: mandrake (Mandragora officinarum p 15) and persea (Mimusops laurifolia p 15).
Flowering and fruiting shoots of Christ-thorn Ziziphus spina-christi.
World History
