THE FLOWER MYTHS

1. THE FLOWER MYTHS • Narcissus • Hyacinth • Adonis

2. NARCISSUS • A handsome young man named Narcissus • He would ignore the advances of beautiful maidens • Even the fair nymph Echo, who was punished by Hera never to speak again but to repeat what was said to her, could not gain his love; hid herself into a cave out of shame; still lives in enclosed places; so weakened that only her voice remained • Narcissus was doomed to love himself after seeing his own reflection in water • He could never reach himself; died looking at himself; a flower bloomed at the side of the pool, Narcissus

3. HYACINTH • Hyacinthus was the dearest companion of Apollo • During a discus-throwing contest Apollo accidentaly struck the boy in the forehead • The youth died immediately • Where his blood fell there bloomed a wondrous flower, to be called Hyacinth • Apollo’s sorrow was inscribed on the petals with the two letters of the Greek word for “Alas!”

4. ADONIS • Even as a baby Adonis was loved by Aphrodite • Aphrodite took him to Persephone to take charge • Persephone loved him too, did not want to give him back; Zeus decided that he should spend autumn and winter with Persephone and the spring and summer with Aphrodite • They liked to play and chase each other in the woods • One day Adonis wounded a wild boar; boar killed him • Where his blood fell there bloomed the red anemone

5. LOVE STORIES • Pyramus and Thisbe • Orpheus and Eurydice • Pygmalion and Galatea • Daphne • Endymion

6. PYRAMUS & THISBE • Pyramus (young boy) and Thisbe (lovely maiden) lived in Babylon in two houses with a common wall • Lovers would talk through a hole in tha wall, yet no touch and kiss possible • Finally they decided to slip away to meet under the white mulberry tree • Thisbe went first, dropped her cloak while escaping from a lioness • Pyramus saw the bloodstained cloak and thought Thisbe was dead, stabbed himself; his blood dyed the mulberries into red • Thisbe came back, understood what happened and killed herself • Their love is commemorated in the red mulberry tree

7. ORPHEUS & EURYDICE • Son of one of the Muses and a Thracian prince • Mother gave him the gift of music which fostered in Thrace • When he played rocks moved, animals followed • He married Eurydice, she died shortly after • Orpheus decided to go to Hades and bring her back • His song touched Hades’s heart and gave Eurydice back, but upon one condition: he would not look back to be sure that she followed • Just as he was out he turned back, Eurydice slipped back into darkness forever • Orpheus wandered aimlessly; was killed by bandits; where he is buried the nightingales sing sweetly

8. PYGMALION & GALATEA • Pygmalion, a young sculptor of Cyprus, hated women for their deficiencies, swore never to marry • Yet he made the statue of a perfect woman and fell deeply in love with what he made • He did everything to have a response from the statue, but the statue was a lifeless thing • Venus (Aphrodite) accepted his prayers and gave life to the statue, Pygmalion named her Galatea and married her

9. DAPHNE • Daughter of the river-god Peneus • She was a beautiful girl who rejected all who wooed her, she liked hunting in the woods • Apollo saw her in the woods; fell in love and began to pursue her • While running in fear she saw her father’s river and asked for help • Suddenly she was changed into the laurel tree • Apollo made her his tree and her leaves the symbol of victory

10. ENDYMION • He was a young and handsome shepherd • The Moon-goddess Selene loved him • Selene made him immortal and cast a magic on him so that he would sleep forever while she caressed and kissed him as she pleased