Nochia

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Nochia apud Kiranidam vocatur flommos de quo supra in flo.


Apparatus:

Nochia AC ef | Nokia B

kiranidã AC | kirãidã B | kiranidũ f | kyranidã e

flõmos AC | flomos B | fl’omos ef


Translation:

In the Kyranides Nochia is the name given to flommos {prob. "mullein"}, more about it in the above entry Flommos.


Commentary:

Simon here refers to an entry in the Kyranides [[1]], Mysteria physico-medica, 1, 13, Frankfurt edition (1681: 54):

Νεκυΐα herba. … Nekya herba est florinus, .i. tapsus barbatus, hujus herbae species sunt VII. differt ergo (1681: 55) quantum folia, quae ascendunt supra terram brachium unum. Hujus folia comburunt in lucernis pro lychnis. Quia haec habent in νεκυϊκαῖς μαντείαις (i. in nigromantia) quae fiunt in concha, quod faciunt hucusque. Quare et herba haec nekya dicitur. Nam νεκὺς est mortuus.

"Nekya is the herb florinus, i.e. tapsus barbatus {'mullein'}. Of this herb there are seven kinds, the difference is shown in the leaves, which they send out an 'arm long' above the earth. Its leaves used as wicks burn well in lamps. This is also why they use them in the νεκυϊκαὶ μαντείαι /nekyïkaì manteíai/ (i.e. necromancy), and they perform it {presumably the ritual burning of the leaves} in a shell, which is performed in this manner to this day. And this is why this herb is called nekya, because νεκὺς /nekỳs/ means 'dead'."

Wilf Gunther 30/12/13


See also: Flommos


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