![]() References to the importance of mandrake in human culture trace back as far as the book of Genesis and in ancient Greek and Roman societies. Mandragora species are native to the Mediterranean and the Himalayas. The term mandrake also is commonly used for the roots of these plants, which contain poisonous alkaloids and have been used medicinally for their anodyne (relieves pain through external application) and soporific properties, but also can lead to delirium and hallucinations. ![]() According to Katie McGrath ( Morgana), in the audio commentary of The Tears of Uther Pendragon, she and Emilia Fox ( Morgause) were so fond of the mandrake root they nicknamed it "Manny".Mandrake is the common name for any of the herbaceous, perennial plants comprising the genus Mandragora of the nightshade family Solanacea, and in particular Mandragora officinarum, whose long, fleshy, often forked root can roughly resemble the human body and has long had medicinal, mystical, and magical properties associated with it.When Uther's sickness was worsened, he was so lost in visions that he was unaware that Morgana was standing in front of him even when he was awake ( The Tears of Uther Pendragon). It is possible that when a mandrake's effects on a person are worsened, it can partially reduce a person's consciousness and focus the victim more on their visions than their surroundings.However, it would only work if Gwen entered the Cauldron's waters willingly if she were tricked or forced, her soul would be lost forever ( With All My Heart).Īppearances Series 3 The Tears of Uther Pendragon Series 5 The Dark Tower With All My Heart (Mentioned only) Trivia Merlin later learned from the Dochraid that the only way to reverse the enchantment was to take the victim to the Cauldron of Arianrhod and summon the White Goddess. When it was over, their will was no longer their own and they were slaves of the High Priestesses for all eternity. According to Gaius, the ritual used the mandrake root to bring unimaginable terror to the victim. By the time Arthur and his men rescued her, her mind was under Morgana's control ( The Dark Tower).Īfter discovering Gwen's enchantment, Merlin learned that the ritual Morgana had subjected to was called the Teine Diaga. Gwen resisted at first, but her resolve slowly crumbled as the hallucinations intensified. She tried to convince Gwen that she was the only person she could trust. Over the course of several days, Morgana visited regularly to offer food and comfort. The roots were coated with a black potion and induced nightmarish hallucinations of endless screaming and her friends and loved ones laughing at her. When Gwen was kidnapped by Morgana, she was taken to the Dark Tower and imprisoned in a room filled with mandrake roots. He later threw the root into the fire, destroying it and releasing Uther from the enchantment ( The Tears of Uther Pendragon). The root was eventually discovered by Merlin while he was working in Uther's chambers. He mistook the potion dripping from the root for blood and she was forced to kill him before he discovered what it really was. One night, she was stopped by one of the castle guards. To keep the enchantment going, Morgause's cave every evening for a freshly enchanted root. The hallucinations grew steadily worse until he was confined to his bed, leading the people of Camelot to believe that he was losing his mind. That night, Uther began to suffer nightmarish hallucinations of his wife Ygraine and children he'd executed during the Great Purge. Morgana took the root back to the citadel and hid it beneath Uther's bed. She then removed the root from the potion and gave it to Morgana. After preparing the necessary potion, Morgause added a handkerchief containing Uther's tears and then the root itself, which emitted a piercing scream. Morgause and Morgana used a mandrake root enchantment to drive Uther mad.
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