Mysterious myrrh (Burseraceae commiphora) has a history older than humankind. With a deep connection to death, healing and the divine, myrrh has significant spiritual meaning. It's a smoky, strongly scented gum resin extracted from a few small, thorny tree species, especially Commiphora myrrha.
Myrrh resin is used in medicine, perfumes and incense. As a mild recreational substance in ancient times it's sometimes added to wine or later, posca.
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Posca is a blend of vinegar, wine, and water, often called vinegar in Greek texts as the Greeks have no word for postca. It's generally a drink of commoners. Emperor Hadrian (r. 117 to 138 CE), famous for living among the soldiers, drinks posca as part of his regular fare.
Egyptians embalm the dead using myrrh and natron, a type of soda ash. Myrrh grows naturally in today's Somalia, Oman, Yemen, Eritrea, Somali Region of Ethiopia and parts of Saudi Arabia.
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The Fifth Dynasty ruler of Egypt, King Sahure (c. 2465 - 2325 BCE), records the earliest known expedition to the land of Punt in southeast Egypt and the Horn of Africa. The land of Punt is rich in natural resources.
The expedition brings back some people of Punt as well as wild animals such as cheetahs, baboons, a secretary bird, and skins of giraffes. Naturally formed beads of resin are used in local jewelry.
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The Egyptians also import ebony, ivory, frankincense and myrrh. In the tomb of Sahure, a depiction of this event shows the King rising up to the heavens bearing a myrrh tree.
Because the myrrh tree grows naturally in the Land of Punt, myrrh resin is an important object of trade. The gummy sap comes from wounds to the branches and trunks. Hardened, it produces a brownish gold chunky resin with a spicy to musky scent.
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The pygmy god Bes of Egypt is thought to come from the the Land of Punt. He's a popular household deity and protector worshipped from the early days of the kingdom, shown above in Egyptian blue faience. He's an example of early trade history between Egypt and the Land of Punt.
Myrrh is used is rituals and burned as incense. Spiritually, myrrh connects to divinity. As incense it cleanses and purifies a space for magical or creative purposes. Myrrh is associated with death as a beginning, and the earth as a place of rebirth, and the divine connection of heavens and earth.
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In natural healing, myrrh flower, resin and myrrh oil tea, ointments, aromatherapy and extracts of myrrh are thought beneficial to treat symptoms of indigestion, ulcers, colds, cough, asthma, respiratory congestion and arthritis.
In linaments, myrrh has analgesic properties for muscle sprains. With natural painkilling and anti-bacterial qualities it's used to treat toothache and as an antiseptic mouthwash.
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Myrrh is prominent in the Christmas carol "We Three Kings" written by Pennsylvanian rector John Henry Hopkins Jr in 1857 CE. Three kings or wise men of the Orient visit the stable cradle of newborn baby Jesus.
They bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Myrrh inspires the darkest verse of the song:
"Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing
Bleeding, dying
Sealed in a stone-cold tomb."
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Like Egyptians, Romans and Christians use myrrh for embalming the dead. When Jesus is buried after his crucifixion he's wrapped in myrrh and aloe.
The plant is now known to help preserve the body as its active compounds destroy bacteria. Myrrh is also an ingredient of the holy anointing oil for consecrating priests, the tabernacle and kings.
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In the Monty Python comedy Life of Brian (1979), produced by George Harrison, myrrh causes an issue in the opening scenes, when the three wise men mistake baby Brian for the Messiah. Brilliant movie.
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