EN--The hemlock (English poison hemlock) is a vegetable poison. It owes its name to the verb "konao" meaning "slew" (ancient greek. Derivative "cone" = top). Produced by the plant spotted hemlock (Conium maculatum). The plant is very common in Greece, from ancient times until today. In Ancient Athens used for its narcotic properties of hierophants (as anafrodisiako).
The active ingredient is the alkaloid koneiou koneiini. It, together with nicotine, the strongest vegetable poisons. The main disadvantage is that it is highly volatile compound and, therefore, not recently preparations gradually lose the poisonous power.Swallowing extract (mainly leaves and shoots) koneiou causes painless death. At first the sensory nerves die from the periphery to the center. There is a loss of muscle strength, cushioned regional senses, the reflex arc of the spinal cord causes tremors and convulsions. Finally, sleep occurs, cerebral mine and, ultimately, death.Botanical DescriptionPlant herbaceous, smooth, almost hairless, large, with a height of 50cm to 2,5 m, annual or biennial.The stem is strong, upright, branched, often with reddish spots to the bottom, hollow interior, bar along externally.The leaves are petiolate, opposite, lower large 50x40cm up to the triangular contour, compound, 2-4 times pinnate, soft, hairless With segments lanceolate to deltoid, pteroschidi, plush.Sheets housing: permanent bracts, short katanefonta 0-5-6 narrow triangular to ovate-lanceolate leaves with edges that turn downwards, dry web texture.Perivlimatio of 3-6 leaflets, unilaterally towards the outside of the hood part which widens and adhere to the base.Inflorescences compound umbels with 10-20 rays, and at the end of the stem axils with flowers small, white without sepals, which are usually developed in the second year.Petals antooeidi with convex top to the axis.Thick short, thick, diestotes.Fruit tefroprasinos, diachainio, oval, yposfairikos almost spherical, pressurized side of 2,5-3,5 mm, which break into two pieces, which are oval meristokarpia and embossed wavy sides epalxotesWithout ekkrimatoforous pipelines ..
 The root of the plant is like Pastinaca (parsnip) and branchedOdor: The plant has a heavy and unpleasant odor is intensified by crushing the leaves and shoots of fruit. Smell like urine from mice.The flavor of the fruit is bitter and causes nausea.StoryKnown since ancient times, is rumored to have been used before historical times to kill the elders of incapacitated, disabled and sick Keion (island of Kea Kea =).The hemlock Attica and Megara considered highly reactive. Also prefer the fyomeno in cold and shady places such as the Loussoi near Mantinea.Attalus the Third King of Pergamon hemlock grew along with many other poisonous plants in his garden. Athens used for its narcotic properties of hierophants as anafrodisiako.Hippocrates in many parts of his writings indicate his sperm koneiou as a narcotic in poultices, suppositories and smoking.The 3rd BC Nicander century describes it as follows in "Alexifarmaka 'poison brings dark night" skotoessan night ", people paralyzed and crawling on hands, breath caught as it clogs the neck, limbs freeze and end their soul goes to another world from lack of air due to paralysis of breathing.With hemlock and killed the great philosopher Socrates. Four years after, once attended by prison Thirameni his pupil, and he captured (399 BC), accused of impiety and corruption of youth and unfair because "the word itto kreitton poionkai others nevertheless teacher" (Plato, Apology, 19) .In prison, having learned from his guard the day had to take the hemlock and symptoms of poisoning, took the medicine with absolute equanimity and without any change in the characteristics of the person.Plato in the Phaedo gives us brilliantly image of poisoning. So Plato says:"When Socrates felt to outweigh its parts lay in the back. So he recommended the executioner. At the same time touching him, after spending some time, observing feet and legs. Then pressed his foot hard and asked him if he feels. Anything not quite a Evi. (He had already begun the necrosis of the sensory nerves of the region) and after that pressed again, the legs came back and after showing us that freezes and paralyzes. Touched him and said that when he arrived (paralysis) in the heart then you die. Already nearly reached its freezing epigastrium. Uncovered, it was covered and what was said the last words, "O Crito, attached Asclepius owed aletryona efficiently and not forget." It will be said critically. Did you want something else to tell us, he asked. But Socrates did not answer anything .... and he erected the eyes. Witnesser not Kriton captured the mouth and eyes.
 The Aristophanes 'Frogs' lyrics. 186 cool extremities resembles snow.Theophrastus writes that extract from the root of koneiou is the strongest poison and discharge (ie death) is easy even if given little pill. He also notes the synergy with the opium poppy in a quick and painless death, with a small amount of the drug in volume, an observation attributed to the botanic Thrasya of 5oup.Ch century of Mantinea "Radio poiesis and the absentee epolysin per Anyone chromen koneiou tech and opium, and other such evogkon is so small as olkin drachma. "Dioscorides says: "The drink hemlock when the blur caused blackouts and so not seen nor little hiccup and Freakout mind and freeze ends. At the end suffocate epilepticus and stops the air in the trachea. Initially, like the others, will expel with vomiting, laxative use after then will we eliminate what has slipped in the intestines and then we get to drink wine anerotou as the better adjuvant, leaving at intervals which helps to give to drink the milk or gaidourisio absinthe with pepper, wine and castoreum. Also, rue and mint with wine or one penny or styraka cardamom or pepper with seeds and nettle wine and bay leaves. Equally and emulsion silfiou oil or sweet wine. And sweet wine, if drunk neat in large quantity suitable enough. "Dioscorides mentions the therapeutic indications of koneiou. He writes that, after drying has many uses mixable drops to painkillers, extract if used in a poultice helps herpes and erysipelas. It also helps those who suffer oneiroxeis, while if the poultice placed on the genitals suppresses desire. The hemlock stops breast milk limits the development of breasts in girls, while in boys cause testicular atrophy 'breasts .. tech in virginity and prevent afxanesthai didymois atrofois notify on boys'Galen says the hemlock in many points, is among the cold poisons, killed by freezing the heart (XI, 596). Not mention "Graia which Athenaeus of minimum dose arxamenis eithisthi interim drug" (XI, 601)Pliny (XXV, 55) describes the notes poisonous plant sperm. And Celsus mentions the plant as a poison and antidote mentions plenty of wine after unbridled went (rue) and emptying the stomach by vomiting. (V, 27,12).The Skrivonios Largos (kef.179) describes the symptoms of poisoning, enemas and laxatives is milk ass.First in Greece who drank the hemlock indicate the general and politician Thiramenis at the age of 30 tyrants, when he was sentenced to death (404 BC). The Thiramenis was from Kea and boldly drank the poison. When the last drops spilled on the ground said that they were the enemy of Critias. His words were prophetic, because indeed after a while his opponent was killed and overthrow of the tyranny of the Thirty.The second refers Warlord killed without even be known the cause of his conviction, as mentioned by Lysias (on Eratosth.Ch1, 5).Although poisonous force of koneiou was known since ancient times, using it to kill the prisoners was introduced in 404-403 BC. for 30 tyrants. So the way of death was "ancestral custom" (traditional tactics) and the heinous a plant (Pliny XXV, 13)For killing used the opon the received di'ekthlipseos seed mainly because it contained the largest proportion of active substance (1% koneiini) while the broth of shoots and roots 0.5%. The dose was fixed and known to the executioner. Usually the dose was a drawing 4,5 g. about.But often forced to issue the second and third dose. This is inferred from the words of the jailer to Socrates. He recommends that offenders not speak very strongly not to hot and need to drink double or triple dose. Killed by hemlock also Phocion (318 BC) and his political friends 4, then the executioner refused to prepare the dose Fokion if not received 12 drachmas ATTIK, the honor of one dose. Then one of the attendants gave friends money remark bitterly that "the Athenians nor free epitreposi him to die." In reality, however, the drug was administered to free prisoners, just in this case the executioner refused his own expense, to go to market to get the hemlock.Thanatothentes with hemlock mentioned the orator Aeschines (323 BC) corrupt judges in a trial, Filopoimon (197 BC), the British killed by Nero with a mixture of opium and koneiou and at times the Christian witness Justin ( 167 AD).
 The Romans called it cicuta using this name for various poisonous plants of the same family. In 1541 the name was given to another cicuta plant Cicuta virosa by Linnaeus and the ancient word in the plant hemlock Conium maculatum.