Myrsine (mythology)
In
Etymology
The Ancient Greek word μυρσίνη (myrsínē) means 'myrtle'.[2] Other spellings and forms include μυρρίνη (myrrhínē), masc. μύρρινος (mýrrhinos) for the plant overall and myrtle wreaths, while the berry is μύρτον (mýrton)[3] or μυρτίς (myrtís).[4][5] Myrsine and its variants is probably of Semitic origin, but unrelated to the word for myrrh, μύρρα (mýrrha) or σμύρνα (smýrna), despite the strong resemblance between the two words.[5] Robert Beekes suggested a pre-Greek origin due to the myrt-/myrs- variation.[6]
Mythology
Myrsine surpassed all girls in beauty and all boys in strength, winning herself the favour of Athena, the virgin goddess of wisdom and patron-goddess of Attica. She excessed in both the ring and the race, beating all her opponents. Many of her fellow athletes whom she had beaten grew resentful of her, so in envy they murdered her. But Athena took pity in her favourite, and turned the dead girl into a myrtle, which was 'not less acceptable to Athena than the olive tree'.[7][8][9][10][11] A similar, almost word-for-word, story was also told about another maiden, Elaea, who was changed into an olive tree.[11]
The myrtle was also seen as Aphrodite's sacred plant, and she too had a story connecting her to it.[10][11]
See also
References
- ^ Rosemary M. Wright. "A Dictionary of Classical Mythology: Summary of Transformations". mythandreligion.upatras.gr. University of Patras. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- Liddell & Scott s.v. μυρσίνη
- Liddell & Scott s.v.μύρτος
- Liddell & Scott s.v. μυρτίς
- ^ Brill's New Pauly. Translated by Christine F. Salazar. Hamburg: Brill Reference Online. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
- ^ Beekes 2010, pp. 983-984.
- ^ Geoponica 6
- ^ Cancik et al. 2002, p. 423.
- ^ New York (State) Legislature Assembly, p. 683
- ^ a b Versnel 1993, p. 264, note 119.
- ^ a b c Forbes Irving 1990, p. 278.
Bibliography
- Anonymous (1805). Geoponika: Agricultural Pursuits. Vol. II. Translated by Thomas Owen. London.
- ISBN 978-90-04-17419-1.
- Cancik, Hubert; Schneider, Helmuth; Salazar, Christine F.; Orton, David E. (2002). Brill's New Pauly: Encyclopaedia of the Ancient World. Vol. IX. ISBN 978-90-04-12272-7.
- Forbes Irving, Paul M. C. (1990). Metamorphosis in Greek Myths. ISBN 0-19-814730-9.
- Clarendon Press. Online version at Perseus.tufts project.
- New York (State) Legislature Assembly (March 28, 1865). Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York. Vol. 9. C. Wendell.
- Versnel, Henk (1993). Inconsistencies in Greek and Roman Religion. Vol. II: Transition and Reversal in Myth and Ritual. ISBN 90-04-09266-8.