Cryptid Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Cryptid Wiki


The Vine of Sodom is a plant mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. Its fruit are called "Apples of Sodom", which, though beautiful to the eye, explode when touched and are toxic when eaten.

Description[]

The Vine of Sodom is mentioned in Deuteronomy 32:32: "Their vine comes from the vinestock of Sodom, from the vineyards of Gomorrah; their grapes are grapes of poison, their clusters are bitter."

Jewish Roman historian, Josephus describes the plant growing near Sodom: "...as well as the ashes growing in their fruits; which fruits have a color as if they were fit to be eaten, but if you pluck them with your hands, they dissolve into smoke and ashes."

Explanation[]

The most probable explanation of the Vine of Sodom is that it is the Calotropis procera, or osher which grows from Jorden to Southern Egypt. Its fruits are known as the apples of Sodom, Sodom apple or Dead Sea apple. They are beautiful to the eye but very bitter in taste.

The colocynth (Citrullus colocynthis) is another plant thought to be the Vine of Sodom. Like the Calotropis procera, its fruits are also beautiful but bitter to the taste.

Gallery[]

Sources[]

Advertisement