Roger Phillips

Violet

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Wild Food

By Roger Phillips

Published 1986

  • About

Viola odorata and Viola tricolor Violet is taken from the Latin form of the Greek name Ione. This springs from the legend that when Jupiter changed his beloved Io into a white heifer for fear of Juno’s jealousy, he caused these modest flowers to grow to provide fitting food for her. Another legend says that violets sprang from the blood of Ajax:

And when stern Ajax poured a purple flood,
The violet rose, fair daughter of his blood.

When Napoleon was imprisoned in Elba he promised to return with the violets in the spring and thus the violet became the symbol of the French underground movement at that time. Autumn blooming of violets is said to foretell a deadly epidemic. To dream of violets worn round the neck will prevent drunkenness. A wine made from the flowers was much used by the Romans, while the Egyptians and Turks valued its use in a sorbet. We use them crystallized as cake decorations.