​The beetroot is a plant that grew wild along the Mediterranean coast. In Classical Antiquity, the Greeks cultivated it for its sacred symbolism, offering its roots at the altar of Delphi to honor Apollo.

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The first written mention of the beetroot appears in Aristophanes’ comedy The Frogs

(405 B.C.). In this play, Dionysus—the god of wine and theater—descends to the underworld in search of the “best tragic poet” who can save Athens from decadence.

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The reddish bulb appears on stage on Hades’ table, serving as a witness to a burlesque debate. Aeschylus and Euripides recite verses from their works, competing to be chosen as poets, each representing opposing visions of art: one that exalts heroic and solemn greatness, and the other that reflects vengeance, madness, and the inherent vulnerability of the human condition.