Myrina (priestess)
In
Etymology
Valid spellings of the ancient Greek word for 'myrtle' include μυρσίνη (myrsínē), or μυρρίνη (myrrhínē),[2] masc. μύρρινος (mýrrhinos) for the plant overall and myrtle wreaths, while the berry is μύρτον (mýrton)[3] or μυρτίς (myrtís).[4][5] It is probably of Semitic origin, but unrelated to the word for myrrh, μύρρα (mýrrha) or σμύρνα (smýrna), despite the resemblance.[5] Robert Beekes suggested a pre-Greek origin due to the myrt-/myrs- variation.[6]
Mythology
Myrina was an exceedingly beautiful maiden who was kidnapped by robbers and held in a cave while they committed their robberies, but she managed to escape and return to her home. Since she credited the gods for her safety and freedom, she decided to devote herself to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and became her priestess. But her previous betrothed came to the temple and took her anyway, so she killed him. She was then changed into a myrtle shrub. Because she had been such a loyal priestess, Aphrodite granted pleasant aroma to the myrtle and made it her sacred plant, explaining the myrtle's connection to Aphrodite.[7][8]
Servius, spelling her name as Myrene,[9] adds that as a priestess, one day she recognised one of her captors among the crowd, and dragged him to the middle of the crowd. The man confessed and gave out the names of his associates. A young man, who had previously loved her, took up the task of hunting down the robbers.[10] When he returned successful, he asked for a reward, and the people of the town allowed him to take Myrene to wife, in spite of her being a priestess.[11] But Aphrodite was displeased to see her priestess break her vows, so she killed him and turned Myrene into myrtle.[5][12][13]
Symbolism
The myrtle, which grows by the sea and was seen as appropriate for feminine necessities,
See also
Mythology portal
Ancient Greece portal
Ancient Rome portal
Notes
References
- ^ Pepin 2008, p. 338.
- Liddell & Scott s.v. μυρσίνη
- Liddell & Scott s.v.μύρτος
- Liddell & Scott s.v. μυρτίς
- ^ . Retrieved January 9, 2023.
- ^ Beekes 2010, pp. 983–984.
- ^ Vatican Mythographer II 41
- ^ Wright, Rosemary M. "A Dictionary of Classical Mythology: Summary of Transformations". mythandreligion.upatras.gr. University of Patras. Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ Skinner 1911, p. 127.
- ^ a b Tinkle 1996, pp. 86-87.
- ^ a b Folkard 1884, p. 454.
- Servius, On Virgil's Aeneid 3.23
- ^ Forbes Irving 1990, p. 279.
- ^ Cyrino 2010, p. 63.
- ^ Clark 2015, p. 383.
- ^ Bell 1991, p. 312.
- ^ Artemidorus, Oneirocritica I.77
- ^ a b Folkard 1884, p. 455.
Bibliography
- ISBN 978-90-04-17419-1.
- Artemidorus Daldianus (1805). Reiske, Johann Jakob; Reiff, Johann Gottfried; Rigault, Nicolas (eds.). Oneirocritica. Leipzig: Crusius.
- Bell, Robert E. (1991). Women of Classical Mythology: A Biographical Dictionary. ISBN 9780874365818.
- Clark, Nora (April 1, 2015). Aphrodite and Venus in Myth and Mimesis. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom: ISBN 978-1-4438-7127-3.
- Cyrino, Monica S (2010). Aphrodite. Gods and Heroes of the Ancient World. New York and London: ISBN 978-0-415-77523-6.
- Folkard, Richard (1884). Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics: Embracing the Myths, Traditions, Superstitions, and Folk-lore of the Plant Kingdom. Michigan: S. Low, Marston, Searle, and Rivington.
- Forbes Irving, Paul M. C. (1990). Metamorphosis in Greek Myths. ISBN 0-19-814730-9.
- Clarendon Press. Online version at Perseus.tufts project.
- Maurus Servius Honoratus, In Vergilii carmina comentarii. Servii Grammatici qui feruntur in Vergilii carmina commentarii; recensuerunt Georgius Thilo et Hermannus Hagen. Georgius Thilo. Leipzig. B. G. Teubner. 1881. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Pepin, Ronald E. (2008). The Vatican Mythographers. ISBN 978-0-8232-2892-8.
- Skinner, Charles M. (1911). Myths and Legends of Flowers, Trees, Fruits and Plants. Read Books Ltd. ISBN 9781447497790.
- Tinkle, Theresa (June 1, 1996). Medieval Venuses and Cupids: Sexuality, Hermeneutics, and English Poetry. California, USA: ISBN 0804725152.
External links
The dictionary definition of μύρτος at Wiktionary- The dictionary definition of μυρσίνη at Wiktionary
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