Myrice_(mythology)

Myrice (mythology)

Myrice (mythology)

Greek Cypriot mythological figure


In Greek mythology, Myrice (/ˈmɪərɪs/ MEER-ee-see; Ancient Greek: Μυρίκη, romanized: Muríkē, lit.'tamarix' pronounced [myríkɛː]) is a minor figure from the island of Cyprus. Like both of her siblings Myrrha and Amaracus, she was transformed into a plant bearing her name.

Family

She was the daughter of Cinyras, a king of Cyprus, and thus sister to Myrrha and Amaracus, thus aunt/half-sister to Adonis.

Mythology

The mournful[lower-alpha 1] Myrice was transformed into a tamarix tree (μυρίκη in ancient Greek),[2][3][4] possibly by Aphrodite, as the tamarisk was her sacred tree.[5] The implication seems to be that Myrice was grieving the death of her kinsman Adonis, who was gored by a boar during hunting.[6] Additionally, a Hellenistic and Roman-era cult dedicated to Myricaean Apollo (Μυρικαίος Ἀπόλλων, "Apollo of the Tamarisk") is attested on the Northeastern Aegean island of Lesbos.[7][8]

See also

Notes

  1. Hesychius tried to link her name with the verb μύρεσθαι, myresthai, "to mourn".[1][2]

References

  1. Wright, M. Rosemary. "A Dictionary of Classical Mythology: Summary of Transformations". mythandreligion.upatras.gr. University of Patras. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  2. Kourtzellis 2019, pp. 162–181.

Bibliography


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