Amaracus
In Greek mythology, Amaracus (Ancient Greek: Ἀμάρακος, romanized: Amarakos, lit. 'marjoram') is a young Cypriot boy who transformed into a marjoram plant, an aromatic herb that was one of Aphrodite's most commonly associated plants.[1]
Etymology
The ancient Greek word for marjoram (origanum majorana) is ἀμάρακον, amarakon.[2] Due to the possible β/μ variation (if related to Ancient Macedonian ἀβαρύ, abaru, meaning oregano or marjoram) is probably of pre-Greek origin according to Robert Beekes.[3] He also claims that any connection to Sanskrit maruva(ka) meaning the same is false.[3]
Mythology
On the island of Cyprus, Amaracus was the royal perfumer in the court of King Cinyras, his father.[4][lower-alpha 1] One day Amaracus fell by chance while carrying the ointments, thus creating a greater odor from the confusion of said ointments. Afterwards, he was turned into the amarakon herb (the marjoram), which was also said to be sweet, a plant sacred to the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite.[6][7][8] As the son of Cinyras, this would make Amaracus the brother of Smyrna, another mortal turned into an aromatic plant with connections to Aphrodite.[9]
Culture
The ancient Greeks associated the marjoram with Aphrodite, as they believed she had created it.[10] In antiquity, the island of Cyprus, where the myth takes place and also a major cult center for Aphrodite, was noted for its large marjoram production; to this day, Cyprus still produces aromatic and therapeutic oils of marjoram.[9] Marjoram was also utilised as a strong aphrodisiac, while it was also believed to cure snakebites, and both ancient Greeks and Romans adorned bridal wreaths with this herb.[11]
References
- Rosemary M. Wright. "A Dictionary of Classical Mythology: Summary of Transformations". mythandreligion.upatras.gr. University of Patras. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- Liddell & Scott 1940, s.v. ἀμάρακον.
- Beekes 2009, p. 82.
- Forbes Irving 1990, p. 278.
- Alcman frag 3.71
- Servius, Commentary on Virgil's Aeneid 1.693
- Caruso 2013, p. 116.
- Bell 1790, p. 52.
- Bradley 2015, p. 84.
- Adams, Sue. "Herb Folklore" (PDF). Adams Farms.
- Kintzios 2002, p. 217.
Bibliography
- Alcman (1988). Greek Lyric. Loeb Classical Library 143. Vol. II: Anacreon, Anacreontea, Choral Lyric from Olympus to Alcman. Translated by David A. Campbell. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674991583.
- Beekes, Robert S. P. (2009). Lucien van Beek (ed.). Etymological Dictionary of Greek. Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series. Vol. Ι. Leiden, the Netherlands: Brill Publications. ISBN 978-90-04-17420-7.
- Bell, John (1790). Bell's New Pantheon: Or, Historical Dictionary of the Gods, Demi-gods, Heroes, and Fabulous Personages of Antiquity. Vol. I. London.
- Bradley, Mark (2015). Smell and the Ancient Senses. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-84465-641-7.
- Caruso, Carlo (December 5, 2013). Adonis: The Myth of the Dying God in the Italian Renaissance. Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-1-4725-3882-6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - Forbes Irving, Paul M. C. (1990). Metamorphosis in Greek Myths. United States: Oxford University Press, Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-814730-9.
- Kintzios, Spyridon E. (August 29, 2002). Oregano: The genera Origanum and Lippia. CRC Press. ISBN 0-415-36943-6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert (1940). A Greek-English Lexicon, revised and augmented throughout by Sir Henry Stuart Jones with the assistance of Roderick McKenzie. Oxford: 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.
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