Myths of the Greco Romans

Poppies during the Greco Roman times poppies were used as a plant of death and for that reason they were used to honor the dead. This was because along with their reputation of being a plant of death they were also a plant of sleep. During this time period it was felt in honoring the dead with these plants of sleep it would help them to rest more comfortably.

They were not the only civilization to have used the poppy to honor the dead; the ancient Egyptians also were known to have used the poppy in the Tombs of their pharaohs. During these early civilizations it was important to honor the dead and in some respects that tradition has carried on throughout history. With the placing of flowers at the grave site in respect for the dead. Although the poppy is no longer the only flower that would be used, it's still is a tradition that has carried through the years from the Greco Roman period.

During the time of the Greco Romans the poppy species that would have been used in honoring their dead would have been the Papaver somnife also better known as the opium poppy. During this time the poppy was known as a flower of sleep and it is also a plant that was used for other things such as medicine and food making as it was an important plant for this culture.