"ambergris is produced in the digestive tract of the sperm whale (""Physeter catodon""; ""P. macrocephalus""), it was believed by the ancients of Israel to be derived from a ""sea-creature"" which fed on an underwater aromatic tree, and which later it expectorated and was washed ashore. According to Al-Fasi’s medieval Judeo-Arabic dictionary, this very tree in the midst of the sea was called ""al-ʻanbar"" (ambergris), but in Hebrew is called ""aholoth"". This will explain why Rabbi Saadia Gaon (882‒942 CE) wrote in his Siddur (Siddur RSG, p. 93) that the blessing over the fragrance known as ""ʻanbar"" is “[Blessed are you,"
"Ambrein Ambrein is a triterpene alcohol that is the chief constituent of ambergris, a secretion from the digestive system of the sperm whale, and has been suggested as the possible active component producing the supposed aphrodisiac effects of ambergris. Although ambrein itself is odorless, it serves as the biological precursor for a number of aromatic derivatives such as ambroxan and is thought to possess fixative properties for other oderants. It has been shown to act as an analgesic and it has been proven to increase sexual behavior in rats, providing some support for its traditional aphrodisiac use. Apart from it"
"from Artemis, the ancient Greek goddess of the hunt. ""Absinthe"" is derived from the Latin ""absinthium"", which in turn comes from the Greek ""apsínthion"", ""wormwood"". The use of ""Artemisia absinthium"" in a drink is attested in Lucretius' ""De Rerum Natura"" (I 936–950), where Lucretius indicates that a drink containing wormwood is given as medicine to children in a cup with honey on the brim to make it drinkable. Some claim that the word means ""undrinkable"" in Greek, but it may instead be linked to the Persian root ""spand"" or ""aspand"", or the variant ""esfand"", which meant ""Peganum harmala"", also called"
"supposed aphrodisiac effects, ambrein has been shown to decrease spontaneous contractions of smooth muscles in rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. It is able to reduce these contractions by serving as an antagonist and interfering with the <chem>Ca^2+</chem>ions from outside of the cell. Ambrein Ambrein is a triterpene alcohol that is the chief constituent of ambergris, a secretion from the digestive system of the sperm whale, and has been suggested as the possible active component producing the supposed aphrodisiac effects of ambergris. Although ambrein itself is odorless, it serves as the biological precursor for a number of aromatic derivatives such as"
"has the largest brain on Earth, more than five times heavier than a human's. Sperm whales can live for more than 60 years. Spermaceti (sperm oil), from which the whale derives its name, was a prime target of the whaling industry, and was sought after for use in oil lamps, lubricants, and candles. Ambergris, a solid waxy waste product sometimes present in its digestive system, is still highly valued as a fixative in perfumes, among other uses. Beachcombers look out for ambergris as flotsam. Sperm whaling was a major industry in the nineteenth century, immortalised in the novel ""Moby Dick""."
"harshness. In this developed condition, ambergris has a specific gravity ranging from 0.780 to 0.926. It melts at about 62 °C (143.6 °F) to a fatty, yellow resinous liquid; and at it is volatilised into a white vapour. It is soluble in ether, and in volatile and fixed oils. Ambergris is relatively nonreactive to acid. White crystals of a terpene known as ambrein can be separated from ambergris by heating raw ambergris in alcohol, then allowing the resulting solution to cool. Breakdown of the relatively scentless ambrein through oxidation produces ambroxan and ambrinol, the main odor components of ambergris. Ambroxan"
"ambergris at sea and on a beach, discoveries that lead to quarrels and death due to ""whale gold fever."" The plot of ""The Avengers"" 1963 episode ""Killer Whale"" revolves around an ambergris smuggling operation. The 1969 book ""The Lost Ones"" by Ian Cameron, later made into Disney's 1974 film ""The Island at the Top of the World"" depicts a dirigible trip to the 'Whale Graveyard' where they find so much ambergris that it becomes a point of contention. In the ""Batman"" episode ""Louie's Lethal Lilac Time"" (), Louie the Lilac steals a large piece of ambergris from Bruce Wayne and"
"India, Australia, New Zealand, and the Molucca Islands. Most commercially collected ambergris comes from the Bahamas in the Atlantic, particularly New Providence. Fossilised ambergris from 1.75 million years ago has also been found. A lump of ambergris, found on a beach at Anglesey, Wales, was sold to a French buyer for £11,000 at an auction in Macclesfield, England, on 25 September 2015. A piece of ambergris was found by two Omanis, washed up on a beach on the Fooshi shores of Sadah province in southern Oman, in November 2015. Ambergris is found in lumps of various shapes and sizes, usually"
"Cape, and they replied: “Yes, we have very good information from captains and mates of East Indiamen."" In proof of it they produced ‘quantities of ambergris which is part of the dung of the whales.’ This is a quaint way of expressing the nature of ambergris which is worth more than its weight in gold. Ambergris is a waxy substance secreted by the sperm whale used in making perfumes. In his whaling exploits he was often referred to together with his brother Benjamin. In the 1780s he was recorded as living at 3, Great Winchester Street, London. Alexander Champion was"
"Ambrosia In the ancient Greek myths, ambrosia (, ) is sometimes the food or drink of the Greek gods, often depicted as conferring longevity or immortality upon whoever consumed it. It was brought to the gods in Olympus by doves. ""Ambrosia"" is sometimes depicted in ancient art as distributed by a nymph labeled with that name. In the myth of Lycurgus, an opponent to the wine god Dionysus, violence committed against Ambrosia turns her into a grapevine. Ambrosia is very closely related to the gods' other form of sustenance, ""nectar"". The two terms may not have originally been distinguished; though"
"and argue, and sing a song about their miserable plight. Amphisbaena The amphisbaena (, plural: amphisbaenae; ) is a mythological, ant-eating serpent with a head at each end. The creature is alternatively called the amphisbaina, amphisbene, amphisboena, amphisbona, amphista, amfivena, amphivena, or anphivena (the last two being feminine), and is also known as the ""Mother of Ants"". Its name comes from the Greek words ""amphis"", meaning ""both ways"", and ""bainein"", meaning ""to go"". According to Greek mythology, the amphisbaena was spawned from the blood that dripped from the Gorgon Medusa's head as Perseus flew over the Libyan Desert with her"
"Amphisbaena The amphisbaena (, plural: amphisbaenae; ) is a mythological, ant-eating serpent with a head at each end. The creature is alternatively called the amphisbaina, amphisbene, amphisboena, amphisbona, amphista, amfivena, amphivena, or anphivena (the last two being feminine), and is also known as the ""Mother of Ants"". Its name comes from the Greek words ""amphis"", meaning ""both ways"", and ""bainein"", meaning ""to go"". According to Greek mythology, the amphisbaena was spawned from the blood that dripped from the Gorgon Medusa's head as Perseus flew over the Libyan Desert with her in his hand, after which Cato's army then encountered it"
"the intestines of sperm whales and was used in making perfumes both in ancient times as well as modern. The scent of amber was originally derived from emulating the scent of ambergris and/or the plant resin labdanum, but due to the endangered species status of the sperm whale the scent of amber is now largely derived from labdanum. The term ""amber"" is loosely used to describe a scent that is warm, musky, rich and honey-like, and also somewhat earthy. It can be synthetically created or derived from natural resins. When derived from natural resins it is most often created out"
"The oil was used to fuel kerosene lamps. Ambergris, a waste product produced by the whales, was also valuable to whalers as it was used by humans in cosmetics and perfume. They were not as heavily hunted as its larger counterpart Physeter macrocephalus, the sperm whale, which are typically 120,000 lbs and thus preferred by whalers. The pygmy weighs much less, 340 lbs on average. The pygmy sperms whale is also rather inactive and slow rising when coming to the surface and as such did not bring much attention to themselves. However, they were easy targets, as they tended to"
"weighing from 15 g (~½ oz) to 50 kg (110 pounds), sometimes more. When initially expelled by or removed from the whale, the fatty precursor of ambergris is pale white in colour (sometimes streaked with black), soft, with a strong fecal smell. Following months to years of photodegradation and oxidation in the ocean, this precursor gradually hardens, developing a dark grey or black colour, a crusty and waxy texture, and a peculiar odour that is at once sweet, earthy, marine, and animalic. Its smell has been generally described as a vastly richer and smoother version of isopropanol without its stinging"
"repertoire titled and here representing ambergris, an extremely valuable organic material produced as waste by whales. Whilst they keenly examine it, the ""Nisshin Maru"" leaves dock in a festive cloud of coloured ribbons and excited, screaming children. In the ship's galley, the chef cleans his knives and utensils, boils shrimp and cuts blocks of grey, layered jelly into plated portions using a field emblem mould. The central strip of the top layer of each field emblem is incised in order to allow the ship's crew, to whom the jelly is served, to pull it away. The chef goes through the"
"when administered in large amounts to animals and humans. However, there is only one case of documented toxicity of wormwood involving a 31-year-old man who drank 10 ml of steam-distilled volatile oil of wormwood, wrongly believing it was absinthe liqueur. Medicinal extracts of wormwood have not been shown to cause seizure or other adverse effects at usual doses. It has not been shown that thujones cause the toxicity of wormwood extracts of any kind, including absinthe, at excessive doses. ""Artemisia"" comes from Ancient Greek ἀρτεμισία, from Ἄρτεμις (Artemis). In Hellenistic culture, Artemis was a goddess of the hunt, and protector"
"Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey Maturin Series, Carpenter's Mate Joseph Nagle notes that the French privateer ""The Acheron"" would be ""...loaded with gold and ambergris and all the gems of Araby"", indicating the relative rarity and considerable value of ambergris during the Age of Sail. Ambergris plays a prominent role in the plot of the 2003 ""Futurama"" episode ""Three Hundred Big Boys."" The episode guest-stars Roseanne Barr, who appears as a hologram of herself, reading the dictionary definition of ""ambergris."" In The 2007 film adaption of """", Beadle Bamford claims he uses ambergris as a cologne. In the 2014 episode ""Ambergris"" of"
"not the same thing."" In the Bible, the book of Revelation tells of a star named Wormwood that plummets to Earth and turns a third of the rivers and fountains of waters bitter. Artemisia absinthium Artemisia absinthium (absinthe, absinthium, absinthe wormwood, grand wormwood, wormwood) is a species of ""Artemisia"" native to temperate regions of Eurasia and Northern Africa and widely naturalized in Canada and the northern United States. It is grown as an ornamental plant and is used as an ingredient in the spirit absinthe as well as some other alcoholic beverages. ""Artemisia absinthium"" is a herbaceous perennial plant with"
"Voyage Around the World"" (1697), Dampier escapes to Nicobar Island for ""a prospect of advancing a profitable trade for ambergris...and of gaining a considerable fortune..."" In “The Case of Smelly Nellie” from ""Encyclopedia Brown Tracks Them Down"" (1971), the case revolves around Bugs Meany and the Tigers stealing fifty pounds of ambergris from Smelly Nellie by claiming they found it on the ocean floor and rolling it onto the beach. In the 1956 episode ""Whale Gold"" of the British television series ""The Buccaneers"", a crew of eighteenth-century pirates led by Captain Dan Tempest (actor Robert Shaw) find large pieces of"
"fresh water, and punished lawbreakers. The Aborigines in southwest Australia called the serpent the Waugyl, while the Warramunga of the east coast worshipped the mythical Wollunqua. Serpent worship was well known in ancient Europe. The Roman genius loci took the form of a serpent. In Italy, the Marsian goddess Angitia, whose name derives from the word for ""serpent,"" was associated with witches, snakes, and snake-charmers. Angitia is believed to have also been a goddess of healing. Her worship was centered in the Central Apennine region. A snake was kept and fed with milk during rites dedicated to Potrimpus, a Prussian"
"a four-chambered stomach. The first secretes no gastric juices and has very thick muscular walls to crush the food (since whales cannot chew) and resist the claw and sucker attacks of swallowed squid. The second chamber is larger and is where digestion takes place. Undigested squid beaks accumulate in the second chamber – as many as 18,000 have been found in some dissected specimens. Most squid beaks are vomited by the whale, but some occasionally make it to the hindgut. Such beaks precipitate the formation of ambergris. In 1959, the heart of a 22 metric-ton (24 short-ton) male taken by"
"is applied to that found specifically within New Zealand coal seams. The English word ""amber"" derives from Arabic (cognate with Middle Persian ""ambar"") via Middle Latin ""ambar"" and Middle French ""ambre"". The word was adopted in Middle English in the 14th century as referring to what is now known as ""ambergris"" (""ambre gris"" or ""grey amber""), a solid waxy substance derived from the sperm whale. In the Romance languages, the sense of the word had come to be extended to Baltic amber (fossil resin) from as early as the late 13th century. At first called white or yellow amber (""ambre"
"also known scientifically as Lawsonia Alba. Most individuals have benefited from its heat inducing qualities. The fragrance of Hina is used during the winter season to provide extra warmth. However, there are a few precautions of using Hina during summer. It can lead to nasal bleeding if inhaled in the warm seasons. Anbar/Ambergris Anbar is secreted from whales and is known as the prince of scents. It is found on the beaches and resembles little dark attractive crude blocks. There are some countries that use Anbar in tea. A good example is Morocco where some communities use Ambergris in very"
"Anubis Anubis (; , Egyptian: ""jnpw"", Coptic: ""Anoup"") is the Greek name of a god associated with mummification and the afterlife in ancient Egyptian religion, usually depicted as a canine or a man with a canine head. Archeologists have identified Anubis's sacred animal as an Egyptian canid, the African golden wolf. Like many ancient Egyptian deities, Anubis assumed different roles in various contexts. Depicted as a protector of graves as early as the First Dynasty (c. 3100 – c. 2890 BC), Anubis was also an embalmer. By the Middle Kingdom (c. 2055 – 1650 BC) he was replaced by Osiris"
"has been banned from use in many countries because it originates from the sperm whale, which is an endangered species. Labdanum is the main ingredient used when making the scent of amber in perfumery. Labdanum's odour is variously described as amber, animalic, sweet, woody, ambergris, dry musk, or leathery. Labdanum Labdanum, also called ladanum, laudanum, ladan or ladanon, is a sticky brown resin obtained from the shrubs ""Cistus ladanifer"" (western Mediterranean) and ""Cistus creticus"" (eastern Mediterranean), species of rockrose. It was historically used in herbal medicine and is still used in the preparation of some perfumes. In ancient times, labdanum"
"by handling them or consuming armadillo meat. Armadillos are a presumed vector and natural reservoir for the disease in Texas and Louisiana and Florida. Prior to the arrival of Europeans in the late 15th century, leprosy was unknown in the New World. Given that armadillos are native to the New World, at some point they must have acquired the disease from old-world humans. The armadillo is also a natural reservoir for Chagas disease. The nine-banded armadillo also serves science through its unusual reproductive system, in which four genetically identical offspring are born, the result of one original egg. Because they"
"manufacture of candles, spermaceti was used in soap, cosmetics, machine oil, other specialized lubricants, lamp oil, paint, putty, pencils, crayons, leather waterproofing, rust-proofing materials and many pharmaceutical compounds. Two other products of the sperm whale are of economic importance. Ambergris, a solid, waxy, flammable substance produced in their digestive system, was also sought as a fixative in perfumery. Its teeth were carved by sailors into scrimshaw art. Historically, whaling took a heavy toll on sperm whale populations. Prior to the early 18th century, sperm whales were hunted in Japan and Indonesia. Legend has it that sometime in the early 18th"
"According to Greek mythology, the mythological amphisbaena was spawned from the blood that dripped from Medusa the Gorgon's head as Perseus flew over the Libyan Desert with her head in his hand. Medusa and the other Gorgons were vicious female monsters with sharp fangs and hair of living, venomous snakes whose origins predate the written myths of Greece and who were the protectors of the most ancient ritual secrets. The Gorgons wore a belt of two intertwined serpents in the same configuration of the caduceus. The Gorgon was placed at the highest point and central of the relief on the"
"later in the same work (ll. 901-906) they are said to have been born of Zeus and Themis. Atropos lends her name to the genus ""Atropa"", of which the poisonous plant ""Atropa belladonna"" (deadly nightshade) is a member, and to the alkaloid atropine, an anticholinergic drug which is derived from it. The scientific name of a venomous snake, ""Bitis atropos"", refers to Atropos. Atropos Atropos or Aisa (; ""without turn""), in Greek mythology, was one of the three Moirai, goddesses of fate and destiny. Her Roman equivalent was Morta. Atropos was the oldest of the Three Fates, and was known"
"Amyris Amyris is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word αμυρων (""amyron""), which means ""intensely scented"" and refers to the strong odor of the resin. Members of the genus are commonly known as Torchwoods because of their highly flammable wood. The trunks of ""Amyris"" species exude elemi, a type of balsam (oleoresin) that contains elemic acids, liquid sesquiterpenes, and triterpenes such as α- and β-amyrin among other components. It is used medicinally and in lacquers. The wood is often used for torches and firewood. Its high resin content"
"Melville devotes the following chapter to a discussion of ambergris, with special attention to the irony that ""fine ladies and gentlemen should regale themselves with an essence found in the inglorious bowels of a sick whale."" In ""A Romance of Perfume Lands or the Search for Capt. Jacob Cole"", F. S. Clifford, October 1881, the last chapter concerns one of the novel's characters discovering an area of a remote island which contains large amounts of ambergris. He hopes to use this knowledge to help make his fortune in the manufacture of perfumes. In Chapter 17 of William Dampier's ""A New"
"Samudra manthan The samudra manthana (Sanskrit: समुद्रमन्थन, lit. ""churning of the ocean"") is one of the best-known episodes in the Hindu mythology narrated in the Bhagavata Purana, in the Mahabharata and in the Vishnu Purana. The samudra manthana explains the origin of amrita, the nectar of immortality. Indra, the King of Svarga, while riding on the elephant Airavata, came across Sage Durvasa who offered him a special garland given to him by Shiva. Indra accepted the gift and placed it on the trunk of the elephant as a test to prove that he was not an egoistic deva. The elephant,"