Verbena has long been associated with divine and other supernatural forces. It was called "tears of
Isis" in ancient Egypt, and later called "Hera's tears". In ancient Greece, it was dedicated to
Eos Erigineia. The
generic name is the Latin term for a plant sacred to the ancient Romans.
Pliny the Elder describes
verbena presented on
Jupiter altars; it is not entirely clear if this referred to a verbena rather than the general term for prime sacrificial herbs. Pliny the Elder notes "the Magi especially make the maddest statements about the plant: that [among other things] a circle must be drawn with iron round the plant". or (e.g. in Wales) "Devil's bane". According to the Wiccan writer
Doreen Valiente, Vervain flowers signify the goddess
Diana and are often depicted on
cimaruta, traditional Italian amulets. In the 1870
The History and Practice of Magic by
"Paul Christian" (Jean-Baptiste Pitois), it is employed in the preparation of a
mandragora charm. The book also describes its antiseptic capabilities (p. 336), and use as a protection against spells (pp. 339, 414).
Romani people use vervain for love and good luck. While common vervain is not native to North America, it has been introduced there; for example, the
Pawnee have adopted it as an
entheogen enhancer and in
oneiromancy (dream divination), much as
Calea zacatechichi is used in Mexico. An indeterminate vervain is among the plants on the eighth panel of the
New World Tapestry (
Expedition to Cape Cod). In the Victorian
language of flowers, verbena held the dual meaning of enchantment and sensibility. ==Species==