Thyme is any of several species of culinary and medicinal
herbs of the genus Thymus, most commonly Thymus vulgaris. Ancient Egyptians
used thyme for embalming. The ancient Greeks used it in their baths and burnt
it as incense in their temples, believing it was a source of courage. The
spread of thyme throughout Europe was thought to be due to the Romans, as they
used it to purify their rooms and to "give an aromatic flavour to cheese
and liqueurs".
In the European Middle Ages, the herb was placed beneath
pillows to aid sleep and ward off nightmares. In this period, women would also
often give knights and warriors gifts that included thyme leaves, as it was
believed to bring courage to the bearer. Thyme was also used as incense and
placed on coffins during funerals, as it was supposed to assure passage into
the next life.
