The secret of the "sardonic grin"

(ANSA) - Cagliari, May 15 - Sardinian scientists believe they've traced the roots of the 'death-defying' sardonic grin to a plant commonly found on the Italian island.

Greek poet Homer first used the word, an adaptation of the ancient word for Sardininan, to describe a defiant smile or laugh in the face of death.

He was believed to have coined it because of the belief that the Punic people who settled Sardinia gave condemned men a potion that made them smile before dying...

The plant, tubular water-dropwart (oenanthe fistulosa), is common in Sardinia, where it is popularly known as 'water celery'...

More details at the link. Via Archaeology in Europe. I couldn't find a good photo to illustrate a sardonic grin. I'll use Jack Nicholson (The Shining) until I can find (or someone can suggest) a better one...