Hemlock

Hemlock growing in 5th century BCE Greece

Hemlock (Conium maculatum) is a highly poisonous plant, though it has been used medically since antiquity.

History

5th century BCE

Given hemlock's high toxicity, ingesting too much of it could lead to a quick death. During the Peloponnesian War, the pirates who took over the island of Keos avoided the looming famine by forcing everyone over the age of 60 to drink a concoction made of hemlock, killing them. At another point during the same conflict, the healer Hippokrates asked the misthios Kassandra to gather some hemlock for his elderly patient Pentheus. Hemlock was also used to execute Sokrates in 399 BCE.

1st century BCE

In the 1st century BCE, the scientist Melina used hemlock and hellebore to concoct a poison which caused the sacred crocodiles of Krokodilopolis' Temple of Sobek to become ill, irritable, and bleed from their eyes.

Renaissance

When the Italian Assassin Ezio Auditore upgraded his Hidden Blade to include poison, it originally used distilled hemlock, before he later replaced it with henbane.

American Revolution

The deadliness of hemlock was also utilized by the Assassin Ratonhnhaké:ton during the American Revolution, as his arsenal included small knives coated with a poison derived from hemlock.

Behind the scenes

The same model is used for both hemlock and moly in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Renaissance (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed III
• Assassin's Creed: Origins
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
• Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece