Pomegranates: What a Varied Voyage They Took

Archaeological evidence from the Heraion of Samos and the temple of Hera in Southern Italy reveals that pomegranates held significant symbolic meaning in Mycenaean and Archaic Greece, particularly in female jewelry, faience, clay containers, and goddess worship. The study traces the fruit's enduring cultural significance across ancient Mediterranean societies, from its association with fertility and feminine power to its adoption by Christian and Islamic traditions as a symbol of world domination and religious membership. By analyzing artifacts such as clay, wood, glass, and faience objects shaped like pomegranates, the research demonstrates the fruit's deep-rooted role in ritual practices, including offerings to deities, with modern-day worshippers at Foca del Sele still venerating 'La Madonna del Granato.'

Webb, V. E. S. (2022). Pomegranates: What a Varied Voyage They Took. Aegyptus et Pannonia VIII. : Acta Symposii Anno 2021, 311–347. https://doi.org/10.71067/aepviii-2022-311-347