Thyme History and Origin

Thyme is a herb that can be traced back as far as to Ancient Egypt where it was used in the process of embalming. Its name comes from the Greek word thymos which means spirit and/or smoke. In Ancient Greece, people put thyme in their bath and burned it as incense because they believed thyme was a sign of courage. Similarly, the Romans took a bath in thyme water before battle to gain courage and strength. It is said that many knights of the Middle Ages had a sprig of thyme embroidered on their scarves by their loved  one as a sign of bravery. 

It is said in Northern European folklore that wild thyme is the favorite place of fairies, and therefore also the easiest place to spot them.