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The leaves were eaten as a vegetable, but the small, unappetizing roots, prior to cultivation techniques, were used primarily for medicinal purposes by ancient Greeks and Romans. It is difficult to date the exact use of the Beet, because, unlike seeds that may be found in archaeological sites, the root and leaves decay over time, but references of 300 B.C., claim that the Greeks cultivated the plant for its medicinal value and for its edible roots. Beet Root was so appreciated by the ancients that it was recorded as an offering on silver to the Greek god, Apollo, in his temple at Delphi, and Aphrodite is said to have eaten Beets to retain her beauty.
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