APHRODISIACS THROUGH THE AGES

There have been many lovers and thinkers through the ages who have attributed aphrodisiac qualities to one or another substance. Avicenna, the great Arab physician (11th century) prescribed honey mixed with ginger and a little pepper to stimulate sexuality.

Casanova (18th century), the greatest seducer in history who once seduced two nuns simultaneously with the powerful combination of oysters and champagne also knew the power of the visual image. He regularly showed erotic pictures and engravings to women, gently guiding their thoughts in the desired direction.

Catherine de Medicis (16th century), Queen of France, had a passion for artichokes. Cleopatra (1st century BC) possessed sexual skills that were legend in the ancient world. Her most powerful weapon was fellatio. She also understood the aphrodisiac power of scents. Damascene Rose perfume scented her bath and clothing. Dioscorides (1st century BC), Cleopatra's personal physician, prescribed caraway seeds believing they were a powerful aphrodisiac and recommended their use in cooking.

Marie Comtesse du Barry (18th century), mistress to Louis XV of France, encouraged the greatest cooks of the age to prepare dishes such as soup of shrimps in chicken stock spiced with dill; roast capon stuffed with puree of chestnuts and an omelet flavored with fresh ginger.

Galen (2nd century), physician to the Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, recommended honey taken at bedtime.

John Gerard (16th century), botanist, published a herbal in 1597 which claimed, amongst other things, that carrots were helpful in "love matters". Hippocrates (4th century BC), Father of Modern Medicine, prescribe sage for increasing the sexual appetite of women. Juvenal (1st century), the last great Roman poet, wrote that "shameless and lascivious" women used oysters as an aphrodisiac.

Sheikh Nefzawi (16th century), author of the notorious sex manual, "The Perfumed Garden", confirmed that asparagus was an ideal food for lovers. Almonds too, and pine kernels mixed with honey were recommended before lovemaking. Martial (1st century), Spanish poet. In his writing he made reference to the salad vegetable "rocket", widely regarded as an aphrodisiac, "rocket" was planted around shrines dedicated to the phallic god, Priapus.

Pliny (1st century), Roman scholar, identified garlic in any form to be an aphrodisiac but best taken with chopped coriander leaves in white wine. Jeanne, Marquise de Pompadour (18th century), mistress to Louis XV, was tireless in her search for aphrodisiacs to excite the king. Her favorites were a celery soup and sweet dishes made of combinations of chocolate, vanilla and cream. Sie Shonagon (14th century), the Japanese authoress, lists ginseng in warm sake, fried octopus with sesame seeds and honey as favored aphrodisiacs.