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We read with disbelief the Sikyonians telling to
Pausanias about the plant paidairos that grows
only in Sikyon and only in a special place, but if we keep learning
about the uniqueness of Sikyon's agricultural products the disbelief
starts to fade. The plain of Sikyon (the Sikyonion pedion
as it was called then) was the richest plain in the mainland Greece.
Four rivers in parallel order come to cross it, providing abundance of
water. The soil of the plain was excessively rich and the climate,
especially at those times, was mild and stable.
Even today, after thousands of years of agriculture, the soil is
extremely good. From Hesiod we learn that poppy was planted there and
cultivated, probably for medical reasons. Beautiful flowers and herbs
were growing in Sikyon also, among them the paidairos
which was growing only in the sanctuary of Aphrodite, as for the
aromatic herpyllos was growing wild in the
various small mountains around the territory. From these herbs her
famous garlands were made, the so-called iakcha.
From flowers, such as ivy and violets, beautiful floral wreaths were
made and the invention of them was attributed to Glykera.
Among the many agricultural products their famous sikyos or sikya
was a kind of kolokynthai, a long pumpkin in the shape of cucumber, from
which probably the name of Sikyon was derived. From the dried skin of
sikyos, medical cups were made, the so-called sikya.
Sikyon was famous for its olive oil that
exclusively used for medical reasons and aromatic products. The ancient
Latin writers called Sikyon "Olivifera Sikyon"
and "Sikyonian baca" of the
olive.
All her vegetables were in high demand as also her fine wine. Many
exotic and rare plants were growing at these times, a plum the so-called
"amadrya" and "kolokasia",
from which the goddess Athena was named at Sikyon. |
