Post on 12-Jan-2016
Greek Flower MythsGreek Flower Myths
““Exaltation of the Exaltation of the Flower”Flower”
Echo & NarcissusEcho & Narcissus
"So may he himself love, and not gain "So may he himself love, and not gain the thing he loves!" the thing he loves!" (Ovid, (Ovid, MetamorphosesMetamorphoses 3.405).3.405).
The gods may have changed Narcissus The gods may have changed Narcissus to a flower, due to fear that he would to a flower, due to fear that he would starve to death with his obsession.starve to death with his obsession.
The center of the daffodil cup is said to The center of the daffodil cup is said to contain the tears of Narcissus.contain the tears of Narcissus.
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Narcissus (the daffodil)Narcissus (the daffodil)
The "drooping" of The "drooping" of the daffodil the daffodil symbolizes symbolizes Narcissus Narcissus admiring admiring himself.himself.
In medieval In medieval Europe, it was Europe, it was believed that if a believed that if a daffodil drooped daffodil drooped when you looked when you looked at it, it was an at it, it was an omen of death.omen of death.
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The beautiful, but self-obsessed Narcissus not The beautiful, but self-obsessed Narcissus not only gave his name to a genus of lovely only gave his name to a genus of lovely flowers, but also to a psychological flowers, but also to a psychological condition, narcissism (narcissistic condition, narcissism (narcissistic personality disorder) which includes personality disorder) which includes excessive self-admiration, a lack of excessive self-admiration, a lack of empathy, and grandiose fantasies among empathy, and grandiose fantasies among other characteristics. other characteristics.
In the Victorian floriographs (flower In the Victorian floriographs (flower dictionaries), daffodils meant vanity and dictionaries), daffodils meant vanity and unrequited love. unrequited love. (Others say daffodils can (Others say daffodils can mean contentment. )mean contentment. )
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Narcissus actually stems from the Greek word Narcissus actually stems from the Greek word narkaonarkao (numbness), referring to the (numbness), referring to the narcotic properties of the plant. Socrates narcotic properties of the plant. Socrates said that it could be applied to open wounds said that it could be applied to open wounds and bring about numbness to the nervous and bring about numbness to the nervous system and paralysis of the heart. Roman system and paralysis of the heart. Roman soldiers carried daffodil bulbs to bring about soldiers carried daffodil bulbs to bring about painless death if severely wounded, and painless death if severely wounded, and they may have brought them to England to they may have brought them to England to help with healing. (Daffodils actually help with healing. (Daffodils actually inflame the skin, rather than help, though. )inflame the skin, rather than help, though. )
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In Wales finding the first daffodil of spring is expected In Wales finding the first daffodil of spring is expected to bring more gold than silver to your life and home to bring more gold than silver to your life and home during the following 12 months. during the following 12 months.
Never give a single daffodil, as bringing a single Never give a single daffodil, as bringing a single daffodil into the house will bring misfortune. daffodil into the house will bring misfortune.
Plant lore tells us that daffodils bring good fortune to Plant lore tells us that daffodils bring good fortune to the person who avoids trampling on them.the person who avoids trampling on them.
English folklore also discourages from bringing English folklore also discourages from bringing daffodils into the house when poultry are sitting on daffodils into the house when poultry are sitting on eggs. The people believed it would stop their hens eggs. The people believed it would stop their hens and geese from laying eggs or the eggs from and geese from laying eggs or the eggs from hatching. hatching.
The daffodil is the national flower for Wales (partly The daffodil is the national flower for Wales (partly due to a mix-up with the leek).due to a mix-up with the leek).
Daffodil comes from “asphodel,” meaning king’s Daffodil comes from “asphodel,” meaning king’s spear.spear.
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The daffodil is a symbol of rebirth, the The daffodil is a symbol of rebirth, the new beginning of spring. Daffodils new beginning of spring. Daffodils are the birthday flower of March, the are the birthday flower of March, the same month as the spring equinox same month as the spring equinox that heralds the beginning of a new that heralds the beginning of a new season. The daffodil is known as the season. The daffodil is known as the “Lenten Lily” in England. A legend “Lenten Lily” in England. A legend says that the daffodil first appeared says that the daffodil first appeared in the Garden of Gethsemane to in the Garden of Gethsemane to comfort Jesus in his sorrow.comfort Jesus in his sorrow.
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Persephone & the NarcissusPersephone & the Narcissus
Some say Persephone, in the Underworld, Some say Persephone, in the Underworld, wore a crown of daffodils. The flower is wore a crown of daffodils. The flower is symbolic of new life. In reality, the daffodil symbolic of new life. In reality, the daffodil is often the first bulb flower (beside the is often the first bulb flower (beside the snow crocus) to come back to life in the snow crocus) to come back to life in the spring. The flower increases its roots while spring. The flower increases its roots while appearing dead in winter. The appearing dead in winter. The narcissus/daffodil is also the flower Hades narcissus/daffodil is also the flower Hades used to ensnare Persephone.used to ensnare Persephone.
The daffodil may have also symbolized death The daffodil may have also symbolized death to the Greeks. According to Homer, it is in to the Greeks. According to Homer, it is in asphodel-covered meadows that the souls asphodel-covered meadows that the souls of the dead wander. of the dead wander.
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LiriopeLiriopeLiriope was the name of Narcissus’s Liriope was the name of Narcissus’s
mother, and it’s a plant today.mother, and it’s a plant today.
HyacinthHyacinth
The modern discus weighs 2 kg (4 lbs 7 oz). The modern discus weighs 2 kg (4 lbs 7 oz). The ancient discus (originally made of The ancient discus (originally made of stone, later of bronze, iron, or lead) stone, later of bronze, iron, or lead) weighed anywhere from 1.3 to 6.6 kg. You weighed anywhere from 1.3 to 6.6 kg. You have to believe that Apollo wasn't have to believe that Apollo wasn't throwing the small one, right? So he's throwing the small one, right? So he's probably throwing the big one at 14 probably throwing the big one at 14 pounds or so. Wow. Keep in mind that pounds or so. Wow. Keep in mind that Nelson's fleet fired round-shot that was Nelson's fleet fired round-shot that was smaller than this (some of it) at the battle smaller than this (some of it) at the battle of Trafalgar a couple of thousand years of Trafalgar a couple of thousand years later. later.
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ZephryZephry
““Behold the blood which had flowed on Behold the blood which had flowed on the ground and stained the herbage, the ground and stained the herbage, ceased to be blood; but a flower of ceased to be blood; but a flower of hue more beautiful than the Tyrian hue more beautiful than the Tyrian sprang up, resembling the lily, if it sprang up, resembling the lily, if it were not that this is purple and that were not that this is purple and that silvery white. . . . And this was not silvery white. . . . And this was not enough for Phoebus; but to confer enough for Phoebus; but to confer still greater honor, he marked the still greater honor, he marked the petals with his sorrow, and inscribed petals with his sorrow, and inscribed ‘Ah! Ah!’ upon them, as we see to ‘Ah! Ah!’ upon them, as we see to this day.” (Bulfinch)this day.” (Bulfinch)
““According to classical interpretations, According to classical interpretations, this myth, . . . is a classical metaphor of this myth, . . . is a classical metaphor of the death and rebirth of nature, much the death and rebirth of nature, much as in the myth of Adonis. It has likewise as in the myth of Adonis. It has likewise been suggested that Hyacinthus was a been suggested that Hyacinthus was a pre-Hellenic divinity supplanted by pre-Hellenic divinity supplanted by Apollo through the ‘accident’ of his Apollo through the ‘accident’ of his death, to whom he remains associated . death, to whom he remains associated . . . .” . . .” (wikipedia)(wikipedia)
HyacinthHyacinth
HyacinthHyacinth During the 17th and 18th centuries, During the 17th and 18th centuries,
like the tulip, the hyacinth was to be like the tulip, the hyacinth was to be found only in the collections of very found only in the collections of very rich flower collectors. Because of the rich flower collectors. Because of the hyacinth's pervasive perfume, the hyacinth's pervasive perfume, the bulbs were exorbitantly expensive. bulbs were exorbitantly expensive.
The purple hyacinth stands as a The purple hyacinth stands as a symbol of sorrow, a request for symbol of sorrow, a request for forgiveness. The blue hyacinth forgiveness. The blue hyacinth represents sincerity. The hyacinth in represents sincerity. The hyacinth in general represents constancy. general represents constancy.
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IrisIris
LarkspurLarkspur
PansyPansy
AdonisAdonis
AdonisAdonis
Adonis’s Death Adonis’s Death (3 versions)(3 versions) Jealous, Ares turned Jealous, Ares turned
self to boar and self to boar and killedkilled
Artemis killed as Artemis killed as revenge against revenge against Aphrodite for Aphrodite for Hippolytus’s deathHippolytus’s death
Or accident—Adonis Or accident—Adonis warned but brave warned but brave and tried to hunt and tried to hunt boar.boar.
Anemone (Adonis)Anemone (Adonis)The anemone name comes The anemone name comes
from Greek and roughly from Greek and roughly translates into "windflower." translates into "windflower." The name "windflower" The name "windflower" signifies that the wind that signifies that the wind that blows the petal open will blows the petal open will also, eventually, blow the also, eventually, blow the dead petals away.dead petals away.
Flower sprang up due to Flower sprang up due to Adonis’s blood or due to Adonis’s blood or due to Aphrodite’s tears over Aphrodite’s tears over Adonis’s death.Adonis’s death.
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““Adonis” is sometimes used today to Adonis” is sometimes used today to refer to an extremely good-looking refer to an extremely good-looking man.man.
AnemoneAnemone
Thought to bring luck and protect against evil, Thought to bring luck and protect against evil, legend has it that when the anemone closes legend has it that when the anemone closes its petals, it’s a signal that rain is its petals, it’s a signal that rain is approaching. Still other mythology connects approaching. Still other mythology connects the anemone to magical fairies, who were the anemone to magical fairies, who were believed to sleep under the petals after they believed to sleep under the petals after they closed at sunset. Perhaps it’s because of this closed at sunset. Perhaps it’s because of this magical and prophetic tales that today in the magical and prophetic tales that today in the language of flowers, anemones represent language of flowers, anemones represent anticipation.anticipation.
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““While yet alive, before their tints had While yet alive, before their tints had faded, they glistened like the fairest faded, they glistened like the fairest flowers . . . . I could understand better for flowers . . . . I could understand better for this, the truth of mythology, the fables of this, the truth of mythology, the fables of Proteus . . .”Proteus . . .”
-- Henry David Thoreau -- Henry David Thoreau
Works CitedWorks Cited http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.geocities.com/http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.geocities.com/
thedaffodilgarden/g-echo-narcissus.jpg&imgrefurl=http://thedaffodilgarden/g-echo-narcissus.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.geocities.com/thedaffodilgarden/www.geocities.com/thedaffodilgarden/lore.htm&h=350&w=364&sz=39&hl=en&start=58&um=1&usg=__yrfC2Njlore.htm&h=350&w=364&sz=39&hl=en&start=58&um=1&usg=__yrfC2NjN2vsqdKMrOYIVSQDW2P8=&tbnid=mLAdYHBaGkfuzM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=N2vsqdKMrOYIVSQDW2P8=&tbnid=mLAdYHBaGkfuzM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=121&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnarcissus%2Band%2Becho%26start121&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnarcissus%2Band%2Becho%26start%3D40%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%3D40%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26sa%3DN
Ibid.Ibid. http://fireflyforest.net/firefly/2006/01/01/narcissus/http://fireflyforest.net/firefly/2006/01/01/narcissus/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A21989901http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A21989901 http://blog.serenataflowers.com/2006/08/daffodil_the_da.htmlhttp://blog.serenataflowers.com/2006/08/daffodil_the_da.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A21989901http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A21989901 http://blog.serenataflowers.com/2006/08/daffodil_the_da.htmlhttp://blog.serenataflowers.com/2006/08/daffodil_the_da.html http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lakecounty.typepad.com/http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lakecounty.typepad.com/
life_in_lake_county/images/life_in_lake_county/images/600pxdiscus_thrower_copenhagen.jpg&imgrefurl=http://600pxdiscus_thrower_copenhagen.jpg&imgrefurl=http://lakecounty.typepad.com/life_in_lake_county/2006/10/lakecounty.typepad.com/life_in_lake_county/2006/10/hyacinthus_orie.html&usg=__8GHl6q5lZiJ0ueUBZ9mLFVRrEpk=&h=200&whyacinthus_orie.html&usg=__8GHl6q5lZiJ0ueUBZ9mLFVRrEpk=&h=200&w=200&sz=23&hl=en&start=71&tbnid=WbIKUir3tKLMtM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=200&sz=23&hl=en&start=71&tbnid=WbIKUir3tKLMtM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhyacinth%2Byouth%2Bgreek%26start=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhyacinth%2Byouth%2Bgreek%26start%3D60%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%3D60%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26sa%3DN
http://www.flowers.org.uk/flowers/facts/e-j/hyacinth.htmhttp://www.flowers.org.uk/flowers/facts/e-j/hyacinth.htm
Works Cited (Cont’d)Works Cited (Cont’d)10. 10.
http://www.arenaflowers.com/facts/flowers/flower_meanings/hyacinths_flhttp://www.arenaflowers.com/facts/flowers/flower_meanings/hyacinths_fl
owersowers 11. http://www.teleflora.com/about-flowers/hyacinth.asp11. http://www.teleflora.com/about-flowers/hyacinth.asp
12. 12. http://www.plantingflowerbulbs.com/anemone-flowers.htmhttp://www.plantingflowerbulbs.com/anemone-flowers.htm
13. http://www.teleflora.com/about-flowers/anemone.asp13. http://www.teleflora.com/about-flowers/anemone.asp
Additionally, uncredited photos from various sources (google Additionally, uncredited photos from various sources (google images and wikipedia).images and wikipedia).