Rosemary has a secret
HANRY CAVILL
In Acciaroli, an ancient village on the Cilento coast, walking along the port you can breathe serenity. A small, cozy place: a mirror on the sea that almost looks like a landing place without a storm. The inhabitants of the village enjoy the good life and know how to have fun with little, more than they forget to do in the big cities.
More than one in ten inhabitants make it to (and well beyond) their hundredth birthday, and without many of the problems facing ageing populations in other parts of the world. This is not because the villagers are particularly health-conscious. Simple connoisseurs of food and herbs (including rosemary widely used in their cooking) have a taste for life's pleasures that is as famous as their longevity.
Throughout history, fresh herbs, such as rosemary, have been appreciated for their powerful versatility: suitable for flavoring food and drink, beautifying our homes and alleviating ailments. The Latin name of rosemary is"Ros marinus"and means"sea rose"highlighting its Mediterranean preciousness. The ancient Greeks considered it as a medicine that helped improve circulation and memory.
Mythology tells a lot about this plant. According to a legend, Princess Leucotoe, daughter of the king of Persia Laoocoön, was deceived by Apollo, god of the sun, who fell madly in love with her. The father did not accept such an affront, but not being able to take revenge on Apollo, he punished his daughter with death. The rays of the sun radiating on her tomb transformed the body into a splendid and aromatic plant that tended towards the sky, tied to the ground with strong roots: so she was given the symbol of eternity. For this reason, perhaps, in ancient Greece brides adorned their heads with woven garlands of rosemary and in the Middle Ages it was believed that to win the love of a woman it was enough to touch her with a sprig of this plant.
