Ah, the scent of rosemary wafting through the ruins of Pompeii, the way sage grew along the steps of Athenian temples – it’s like walking through a perfume‑laden timeline. Those herbs were more than culinary fancy; they were symbols, wards, even offerings. The Romans prized rosemary for its association with remembrance and fidelity, so they’d drape it over statues and keep it in the hearths of noble homes. The Greeks, meanwhile, had sage as a sort of sage‑wise sage, a plant believed to preserve the memory of speeches and treaties. When you dig through a fresco or a scroll and find a little illustration of a rosemary sprig, you’re literally tracing a conversation that began centuries ago. It’s fascinating because every herb has a botanical story, but the way each civilization wrapped it in myth, ritual, or practical use turns a simple plant into a living relic. The trick for me is never to let the footnote get lost – a single citation from the late 19th‑century journals is all it takes to confirm a recipe or a ritual. Otherwise, you’re just staring at an old pot plant without context.