Plate 2: four street vendors from Madrid selling garlic and onions, cucumbers, fine crockery, oil, from 'Los Gritos de Madrid' (The Cries of Madrid) 1809 - 1817

Miguel Gamborino’s print from 'Los Gritos de Madrid' presents us with a snapshot of daily life in 18th-century Madrid through its street vendors. Observe the vendor of garlic and onions, holding strands of garlic as if they were precious beads. Garlic, throughout history, has been much more than a mere food item; it is a symbol of protection. Its pungent odor was believed to ward off evil spirits and disease. The display of produce reminds us of the ancient Roman tradition of hanging garlic over doorways to protect the home. In ancient Greece, garlic was left as offerings at crossroads as a meal for Hecate. Such beliefs echo through time, resurfacing in various guises. Even today, the lingering faith in garlic’s protective powers taps into a deep, subconscious connection to our ancestors. This simple act of offering garlic is not merely culinary; it is deeply psychological. It evokes the continuous human need to feel safe, linking us to ancestral rituals in an ongoing dance between past and present.