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given by the goddess Netpe to those who were judged worthy of admission to the
regions of eternal happiness.-- The Ancient Egyptians: Their Life and Customs,
vol. 1, Crescent Books, N.Y. 1988. P.181.

On page 259 of this same volume, the author reveals this incredible piece of
information:

Of fruits, the SYCAMORE FIG, and grapes were the MOST ESTEEMED for the
service of the altar. They were presented on baskets or trays, frequently covered
with leaves to keep them fresh; and sometimes the FORMER [SYCAMORE
FIGS] were represented placed in such a manner, on an open basket, AS TO
RESEMBLE THE HIEROGLYPHIC SIGNIFYING "WIFE."

Isn't that amazing? Here we see the figs linked with "wife" -- ADAM'S "WIFE,"
EVE!!

It is interesting to note that in the Andaman Islands (lying between the Bay of
Bengal and the Andaman Sea) the most dignified form of burial is on an elevated
platform (much like some of the North American Indians) IN A FICU (FIG) TREE.
These people also believed that if a baby dies, its soul returns to the tree (fig) from
whence it originally came. Also, even to this day, in Palestine, the Sycamore Fig tree is
believed to be inhabited by devils!

Now let's not leave ancient Rome out of the picture! In Latin myths the FIG
TREE plays a very important role. Held sacred to Bacchus, it was employed in religious
ceremonies; and the fig tree that OVERSHADOWED the twin founders of Rome --
Romulus and Remus -- in the wolf's cave, AS AN EMBLEM OF THE FUTURE
PROSPERITY OF THE RACE, testified to the high value set upon the fruit by the
nations of antiquity. In fact, the fig tree was so important to ancient Rome that the
following incident was recorded by Alexander Porteous:

There was once a famous Fig tree in Rome which, so it was said, had sheltered the
infants Romulus and Remus while they were being suckled by the wolf. The tree
was thus known as the Ruminalis, or the RUMINAL FIG, and on one occasion, so
tradition avers, when it began to show signs of decay, the UTMOST
CONSTERNATION prevailed in the City of Rome at such an AWFUL OMEN.
Fortunately, however, for the tranquility of the inhabitants, the tree eventually put
forth new shoots and regained its verdure. -- Forest Folklore, Mythology, and
Romance. P.227.

There is another intriguing legend out of the Middle East that narrates that "Eve,
in absence of mind, carried away with her from Eden a BRANCH OF THE TREE OF
KNOWLEDGE, which she planted; while another tells that the Archangel Michael
handed to Eve a branch bearing three leaves, detached from that tree, with instructions to
plant it on the GRAVE OF ADAM. She did so, and it grew into a tree, which was