August is here, which means the juicest figs are ripe and ready to be enjoyed. Figs are a large part of the wonderful Greek diet. They have been apart of Greek culture and diet since ancient times.
The fig tree and it’s fruit have also been a part of several Greek myths including how the fig tree name came to be.
First, a brief review of the family tree of the Greek gods.
Gaia (Earth Goddess) and Uranus (Sky God) are the parents of the Titans.
Cronus and Rhea are both Titans and are the parents of the gods you are likley most familiar with known as the 12 Olympic gods.
The 12 include: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Hermes, and either Hestia or Dionysus.
Now back to the myth of the fig tree. The myth says that Syceus – who was a Titan and son of Gaia (Earth Goddess) – was being chased away by Zeus during the war against the gods (Titans against the Olympic gods). Gaia, his mother, in order to save him, transformed him into a fig tree to hide him from Zeus.
This is where the fig tree gets it’s name, Συκιά, after Syceus.
Figs are enjoyed fresh off the tree, paired with Greek cheeses, preserved into home-made jam, and paired with Greek yogurt and honey. There are endless ways to incoporate the sweetness of the fig into your meals.
When you visit Greece, you can pick some off a tree or purchase them locally and enjoy them on a beach day after swimming in the sea. It’s the perfect treat that even satisfies your sweet tooth.
On the nutritional side, figs are a source of fiber, viamin B6, and several key minerals including potassium, copper, and calcium.
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