1.
Thymus (plant)
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The genus Thymus contains about 350 species of aromatic perennial herbaceous plants and subshrubs to 40 cm tall in the family Lamiaceae, native to temperate regions in Europe, North Africa and Asia. Stems tend to be narrow or even wiry, leaves are evergreen in most species, arranged in pairs, oval, entire, and small, 4–20 mm long. Thyme Flowers are in terminal heads, with an uneven calyx, with the upper lip three-lobed, yellow. Several members of the genus are cultivated as culinary herbs or ornamentals, there has been a considerable amount of confusion in the naming of thymes. Many nurseries use common names rather than the name, which can lead to confusion. For example golden thyme, lemon thyme and creeping thyme can all refer to more than one cultivar, there is some confusion over the naming and taxonomy of some species, and Margaret Easter has compiled a list of synonyms for cultivated species and cultivars. Easter M. Thymus University of Melbourne, Thymus World Checklist Media related to Thymus at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Thymus at Wikispecies The dictionary definition of Thymus at Wiktionary
2.
Thymol
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Thymol also provides the distinctive, strong flavor of the culinary herb thyme, also produced from T. vulgaris. Thymol is part of a naturally occurring class of known as biocides. In addition, thymol can reduce resistance to common drugs such as penicillin. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effects of thymol, ranging from inducing antibiotic susceptibility in drug-resistant pathogens to powerful antioxidant properties. This is especially relevant to Candida infections, carvacrol and thymol have been demonstrated to have an antimutagenic effect. In addition, there is evidence that thymol has antitumor properties, Thymol has antimicrobial activity because of its phenolic structure, and has shown antibacterial activity against bacterial strains including Aeromonas hydrophila and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, thymol demonstrates considerable post antibacterial effect against some microorganisms and this antibacterial activity is caused by inhibiting growth and lactate production, and by decreasing cellular glucose uptake. Though the exact mechanism is unknown, some evidence suggests thymol effects at least some of its properties by membrane disruption. The antifungal nature of thymol is due to its ability to alter the morphology and cause hyphal aggregates, resulting in reduced hyphal diameters. Additionally, thymol is lipophilic, enabling it to interact with the membrane of fungus cells. Thymol has been shown to act as an allosteric modulator of GABAA in vitro. Research on rats concludes that thyme extract had relaxing effects on organs possessing β2-receptors, Thymol is only slightly soluble in water at neutral pH, but it is extremely soluble in alcohols and other organic solvents. It is also soluble in alkaline aqueous solutions due to deprotonation of the phenol. Thymol has a index of 1.5208 and an experimental dissociation exponent of 10.59 ±0.10. Thymol absorbs maximum UV radiation at 274 nm, Thymol is chemically related to the anesthetic propofol. Regions lacking natural sources of thymol obtain the compound via total synthesis, Thymol and carvacrol are now known to kill bacteria and fungi, making thyme well suited for such purposes. In Ancient Greece, thyme was used for its aromatic qualities. Thyme was also a symbol of courage and admiration, with the phrase the smell of thyme being a saying that reflected praise unto its subject
3.
Thymus vulgaris
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Thymus vulgaris is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to southern Europe from the western Mediterranean to southern Italy. Growing to 15–30 cm tall by 40 cm wide, it is a bushy, woody-based evergreen subshrub with small, highly aromatic, grey-green leaves and it is useful in the garden as groundcover, where it can be short-lived, but is easily propagated from cuttings. It is also the source of thyme as an ingredient in cooking. It is slightly spicier than oregano and sweeter than sage, numerous cultivars and hybrids have been developed for ornamental purposes. French, German and English varieties vary by leaf shape and colour, the cultivar Silver Queen, with white-margined leaves, has gained the Royal Horticultural Societys Award of Garden Merit. Thyme Thymol, a disinfectant extract of essential oils
4.
Lamiaceae
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Lamiaceae or Labiatae is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint or deadnettle family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used herbs, such as basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory, marjoram, oregano, hyssop, thyme, lavender. Some species are shrubs, trees, or, rarely, vines, many members of the family are widely cultivated, not only for their aromatic qualities but also their ease of cultivation, since they are readily propagated by stem cuttings. Besides those grown for their leaves, some are grown for decorative foliage. Others are grown for seed, such as Salvia hispanica, or for their edible tubers, such as Plectranthus edulis, Plectranthus esculentus, Plectranthus rotundifolius, the family has a cosmopolitan distribution. The enlarged Lamiaceae contains about 236 genera and has stated to contain 6,900 to 7,200 species. The largest genera are Salvia, Scutellaria, Stachys, Plectranthus, Hyptis, Teucrium, Vitex, Thymus, Clerodendrum was once a genus of over 400 species, but by 2010, it had been narrowed to about 150. The original family name Labiatae refers to the fact that the flowers typically have petals fused into an upper lip, the flowers are bilaterally symmetrical with 5 united petals,5 united sepals. They are usually bisexual and verticillastrate, although this is still considered an acceptable alternative name, most botanists now use the name Lamiaceae in referring to this family. The leaves emerge oppositely, each pair at right angles to the one or whorled. The stems are square in cross section, but this is not found in all members of the family. The last revision of the family was published in 2004. It described and provided keys to 236 genera and these are marked with an asterisk in the list below. A few genera have been established or resurrected since 2004 and these are marked with a plus sign. The remaining genera in the list are mostly of historical interest only and are from a source that includes such genera without explanation, few of these are recognized in modern treatments of the family. Kew Gardens provides a list of genera that includes additional information, a list at the Angiosperm Phylogeny Website is frequently updated. The circumscription of genera has changed since 2004. Tsoongia, Paravitex, and Viticipremna have been sunk into synonymy with Vitex, huxleya has been sunk into Volkameria
5.
Oregano
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Oregano (US /ɔːˈrɛɡənoʊ/ or /əˈrɛɡənoʊ/, UK /ˌɒrɪˈɡɑːnoʊ/, scientific name Origanum vulgare, is a flowering plant in the mint family. It is native to western and southwestern Eurasia and the Mediterranean region. Oregano is a herb, growing from 20–80 cm tall. The flowers are purple, 3–4 mm long, produced in erect spikes and it is sometimes called wild marjoram, and its close relative O. majorana is known as sweet marjoram. Oregano is the form of the Italian word origano, or possibly of the medieval Latin organum. The etymology of the Greek term is given as oros ὄρος mountain + ganos γάνος brightness. Oregano is related to the herb marjoram, sometimes being referred to as wild marjoram, oregano has purple flowers and spade-shaped, olive-green leaves. It is a perennial, although it is grown as an annual in colder climates, oregano is planted in early spring, the plants being spaced 30 cm apart in fairly dry soil, with full sun. Oregano will grow in a pH range between 6.0 and 9.0, with a range between 6.0 and 8.0. It prefers a hot, relatively dry climate, but does well in other environments, many subspecies and strains of oregano have been developed by humans over centuries for their unique flavours or other characteristics. Tastes range from spicy or astringent to more complicated and sweet and it can pollinate other more sophisticated strains, but the offspring are rarely better in quality. The related species, Origanum onites and O. syriacum, have similar flavours, a closely related plant is marjoram from Turkey, which differs significantly in taste though, because phenolic compounds are missing from its essential oil. Some varieties show an intermediate between oregano and marjoram. - Tunisia, Algeria O. v. subsp, gracile Ietsw. has glossy green leaves and pink flowers. It grows well in pots or containers, and is often grown for added ornamental value than other oregano. The flavor is pungent and spicy, - Central Asia, Iran, India, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan. Hirtum Ietsw. - is a source of cultivars with a different aroma from those of O. v. gracile. Growth is vigorous and very hardy, with green, slightly hairy foliage
6.
Origanum
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Origanum is a genus of herbaceous perennials and subshrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to Europe, North Africa, and much of temperate Asia, where they are found in open or mountainous habitats. A few species also naturalized in scattered locations in North America, the plants have strongly aromatic leaves and abundant tubular flowers with long-lasting coloured bracts. The genus includes the important group of culinary herbs, marjoram, Origanum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including Coleophora albitarsella. - Turkey, Iraq Origanum × adanense Baser & H. Duman - Turkey Origanum × adonidis Mouterde - Lebanon Origanum akhdarense Ietsw, & Boulos - Cyrenaica region of eastern Libya Origanum amanum Post - Hatay region of Turkey Origanum × barbarae Bornm. - Lebanon Origanum bargyli Mouterde - Turkey, Syria Origanum bilgeri P. H. Davis - Antalya region of Turkey Origanum boissieri Ietsw, - Spain, Morocco Origanum cordifolium Vogel - Cyprus Origanum cyrenaicum Bég. & Maire - Morocco Origanum floribundum Munby - Algeria Origanum × haradjanii Rech. f - Turkey Origanum haussknechtii Boiss. - Turkey Origanum husnucan-baseri H. Duman, Aytac & A. Duran - Turkey Origanum hypericifolium O. Schwarz & P. H. Davis - Turkey Origanum × intercedens Rech. f. - Greece, Turkey Origanum × intermedium P. H. Davis - Denizli region of Turkey Origanum isthmicum Danin - Sinai Origanum jordanicum Danin & Kunne - Jordan Origanum laevigatum Boiss, - Turkey, Syria, Cyprus Origanum leptocladum Boiss. - Lebanon Origanum majorana L. – marjoram - Turkey, Cyprus, naturalized in scattered locations in Europe, North Africa, ex Halácsy - Greece Origanum × majoricum Cambess. & Barbey - Crete Origanum vogelii Greuter & Burdet - Turkey Origanum vulgare L
7.
Ancient Egypt
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Ancient Egypt was a civilization of ancient Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. It is one of six civilizations to arise independently, Egyptian civilization followed prehistoric Egypt and coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh Narmer. In the aftermath of Alexander the Greats death, one of his generals, Ptolemy Soter and this Greek Ptolemaic Kingdom ruled Egypt until 30 BC, when, under Cleopatra, it fell to the Roman Empire and became a Roman province. The success of ancient Egyptian civilization came partly from its ability to adapt to the conditions of the Nile River valley for agriculture, the predictable flooding and controlled irrigation of the fertile valley produced surplus crops, which supported a more dense population, and social development and culture. Its art and architecture were widely copied, and its antiquities carried off to far corners of the world and its monumental ruins have inspired the imaginations of travelers and writers for centuries. The Nile has been the lifeline of its region for much of human history, nomadic modern human hunter-gatherers began living in the Nile valley through the end of the Middle Pleistocene some 120,000 years ago. By the late Paleolithic period, the climate of Northern Africa became increasingly hot and dry. In Predynastic and Early Dynastic times, the Egyptian climate was less arid than it is today. Large regions of Egypt were covered in treed savanna and traversed by herds of grazing ungulates, foliage and fauna were far more prolific in all environs and the Nile region supported large populations of waterfowl. Hunting would have been common for Egyptians, and this is also the period when many animals were first domesticated. The largest of these cultures in upper Egypt was the Badari, which probably originated in the Western Desert, it was known for its high quality ceramics, stone tools. The Badari was followed by the Amratian and Gerzeh cultures, which brought a number of technological improvements, as early as the Naqada I Period, predynastic Egyptians imported obsidian from Ethiopia, used to shape blades and other objects from flakes. In Naqada II times, early evidence exists of contact with the Near East, particularly Canaan, establishing a power center at Hierakonpolis, and later at Abydos, Naqada III leaders expanded their control of Egypt northwards along the Nile. They also traded with Nubia to the south, the oases of the desert to the west. Royal Nubian burials at Qustul produced artifacts bearing the oldest-known examples of Egyptian dynastic symbols, such as the crown of Egypt. They also developed a ceramic glaze known as faience, which was used well into the Roman Period to decorate cups, amulets, and figurines. During the last predynastic phase, the Naqada culture began using written symbols that eventually were developed into a system of hieroglyphs for writing the ancient Egyptian language. The Early Dynastic Period was approximately contemporary to the early Sumerian-Akkadian civilisation of Mesopotamia, the third-century BC Egyptian priest Manetho grouped the long line of pharaohs from Menes to his own time into 30 dynasties, a system still used today
8.
Embalming
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Embalming is the art and science of preserving human remains by treating them to forestall decomposition. The intention is to keep them suitable for display at a funeral, for religious reasons, or for medical. The three goals of embalming are sanitization, presentation, and preservation, Embalming has a very long and cross-cultural history, with many cultures giving the embalming processes a greater religious meaning. Embalming preserves the human body intact, whereas taxidermy is the recreation of a form often using only the creatures skin mounted on an anatomical form. The Chinchorro culture in the Atacama desert of present-day Chile and Peru are among the earliest cultures known to have performed artificial mummification as early as 5000-6000 BC, perhaps the ancient culture that had developed embalming to the greatest extent was Egypt. As early as the First Dynasty, specialized priests were in charge of embalming and they did so by removing organs, ridding the body of moisture, and covering the body with natron. The Ancient Egyptians believed that preservation of the mummy empowered the soul after death, other cultures known to have used embalming techniques in antiquity include the Meroites, Guanches, Peruvians, Jivaro Indians, Aztecs, Toltecs, Mayans, and Tibetan and southern Nigerian tribes. In China, artificially preserved remains have been recovered from the period of the Han dynasty, the examples being that of Xin Zhui. While these remains have been well preserved, the embalming fluids and methods used are unknown. In Europe the knowledge and practice of preservation had spread from these ancient cultures becoming widely spread by about 500 AD. Early methods used are documented by contemporary physicians such as Peter Forestus, the first attempts to inject the vascular system were made by Alessandro Giliani of Persiceto, who died in 1326. Various attempts and procedures have been reported by Leonardo da Vinci, Jacobus Berengar, Bartholomeo Eustachius, Reinier de Graaf, Jan Swammerdam, in the United States, the Civil War era sparked an interest in embalming and it became very common across the nation. The modern method of embalming involves the injection of various chemical solutions into the network of the cadaver to prevent decomposition. William Harvey, the 17th century English physician who was the first to detail the system of blood circulation, the Scottish surgeon William Hunter was the first to apply these methods to the art of embalming as part of mortuary practice. He wrote a widely read report on the methods for arterial. His brother, John Hunter, applied these methods and advertised his services to the general public from the mid-18th century. One of his more notorious customers was the dentist Martin Van Butchell, when his wife Mary died on January 14,1775, he decided to have her embalmed and turn her into an attraction in order to draw more customers. Hunter injected the body with preservatives and color additives that gave a glow to the cheeks, replaced her eyes with glass eyes
9.
Ancient Greece
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Ancient Greece was a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history from the Greek Dark Ages of the 12th-9th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and this was followed by the period of Classical Greece, an era that began with the Greco-Persian Wars, lasting from the 5th to 4th centuries BC. Due to the conquests by Alexander the Great of Macedonia, Hellenistic civilization flourished from Central Asia to the end of the Mediterranean Sea. Classical Greek culture, especially philosophy, had a influence on ancient Rome. For this reason Classical Greece is generally considered to be the culture which provided the foundation of modern Western culture and is considered the cradle of Western civilization. Classical Antiquity in the Mediterranean region is considered to have begun in the 8th century BC. Classical Antiquity in Greece is preceded by the Greek Dark Ages and this period is succeeded, around the 8th century BC, by the Orientalizing Period during which a strong influence of Syro-Hittite, Jewish, Assyrian, Phoenician and Egyptian cultures becomes apparent. The end of the Dark Ages is also dated to 776 BC. The Archaic period gives way to the Classical period around 500 BC, Ancient Periods Astronomical year numbering Dates are approximate, consult particular article for details The history of Greece during Classical Antiquity may be subdivided into five major periods. The earliest of these is the Archaic period, in which artists made larger free-standing sculptures in stiff, the Archaic period is often taken to end with the overthrow of the last tyrant of Athens and the start of Athenian Democracy in 508 BC. It was followed by the Classical period, characterized by a style which was considered by observers to be exemplary, i. e. classical, as shown in the Parthenon. This period saw the Greco-Persian Wars and the Rise of Macedon, following the Classical period was the Hellenistic period, during which Greek culture and power expanded into the Near and Middle East. This period begins with the death of Alexander and ends with the Roman conquest, Herodotus is widely known as the father of history, his Histories are eponymous of the entire field. Herodotus was succeeded by authors such as Thucydides, Xenophon, Demosthenes, Plato, most of these authors were either Athenian or pro-Athenian, which is why far more is known about the history and politics of Athens than those of many other cities. Their scope is limited by a focus on political, military and diplomatic history, ignoring economic. In the 8th century BC, Greece began to emerge from the Dark Ages which followed the fall of the Mycenaean civilization, literacy had been lost and Mycenaean script forgotten, but the Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet, modifying it to create the Greek alphabet. The Lelantine War is the earliest documented war of the ancient Greek period and it was fought between the important poleis of Chalcis and Eretria over the fertile Lelantine plain of Euboea. Both cities seem to have suffered a decline as result of the long war, a mercantile class arose in the first half of the 7th century BC, shown by the introduction of coinage in about 680 BC
