The Egyptians often left clay models of garlic in ordinary graves. However its powers seem to have been acknowledged at all levels of society for, during Howard Carter’s 1922 excavations, six carefully positioned bulbs were found in Tutankhamen’s tomb- probably to ward off evil spirits. Clearly the Egyptians were familiar with the power of garlic. According to records, they were renowned for growing large tonnages of grain from which enormous amounts of bread were baked- the staple part of an average diet in those days.
Unfortunately, this could often lead to problems with tooth decay. Milled flour often contained grains of silica from the sandstone mill wheels and this frequently led to premature wear of the enamel and garlic ground to past, and apply it straight to the aching tooth! This rather hot climate was also infested with mosquitoes and other biting insects many of which carried malaria and other infectious diseases. Once again it was garlic that came to the rescue- as an effective insect repellent.