Yew – tree of death and longevity

The common yew (Taxus baccata) is an evergreen conifer native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Today, it is a popular ornamental plant, but in ancient times its meaning was quite different.

The ancient Greeks, Romans, Germanic peoples, Celts, and later Slavs were remarkably consistent in their understanding of the symbolism and uses of the yew. They associated it with death, cemeteries, and the land of the dead (it was the tree of Hades, and Greek priests made funeral wreaths from yew branches).

This was due to the fact that the yew is highly poisonous – all its parts (except the aril) contain alkaloids that affect the heart, kidneys, nervous system, and digestive system. Although obvious symptoms (such as heart problems) may occur after consumption, poisoning is often asymptomatic (“Usually, the first symptom of yew poisoning is unexpected death” [footnote id=”1″]). It’s no wonder, then, that it was used to produce poisons – during the Gallic Wars, the king of one of the Celtic tribes, Catuvolcus, is said to have committed suicide with a yew-based poison. Besides humans, horses were also often poisoned, as noted by the Greek philosopher and plant scientist Theophrastus of Eresos. According to Pliny the Elder, wine stored in containers made of yew wood could itself absorb its deadly properties.

Furthermore, yew was also used medicinally, for example, to create remedies that induce miscarriage.

Furthermore, yew wood, thanks to its strength and flexibility, was a popular material for making weapons, primarily bows – Homer mentioned that the Cretans used them.

On the other hand, the yew was a symbol of longevity and rebirth. Not only because it is an evergreen – it grows slowly and can live up to 3,000 years. To this day, very ancient specimens can be found in various corners of Europe (often growing in cemeteries); some may even have witnessed the rise and fall of the Roman Empire.