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In Ancient Days

MYTHOLOGY tells how Romulus founded a Priesthood of twelve foster brothers to offer prayers and sacrifices for the Harvest. This work was considered so important, that when one died the King himself assumed the reverent task.

The fiery, restless Greeks were said to be unmanageable when hungry. The wise government quickly controlled them, punishing by death those that destroyed their neighbors' corn. This government appointed a special magistrate whose duty was to inspect all grain before it was sold.

The first Food Administrator in history was appointed by Julius Caesar to distribute grain. He was called the Government Distributor. Nero, it is said, gave corn to all the poor throughout his whole domain, to win their favor. An ancient legend tells how Ceres, the Goddess of Grain, herself taught the making of mush from corn.

Another story tells how the nymph Egeria, in 1715 B. C., taught King Numa how to parch corn. He was of a thoughtful turn of mind and invented a mortar and pestle to grind the grain to flour. Then he entered the Royal Kitchen and experimented further, finally making bread which he baked in the ashes of a sacred fire. Like a good business man, he organized a series of shops to bake bread according to his formula, and to insure its sale he invoked the protection of a New Goddess-created to fit the occasion!

The origin of cereals is shrouded in mystery. The word "Corn" sometimes was used to designate all grains. We know the Greeks wrought implements to "shell" corn, that corn kernels have been found in tombs of old Peru, and that the Chinese immortalized corn in picture form: It is true that ancient peoples-all-paid tribute to this grain that was a sacred necessity.