The mythology of plants
Subtitle: botanical lore from ancient Greece and Rome
By: Annette Giesecke
Contributors: Ovid, 43 B.C.-17 A.D. or 18 A.D.
Publisher: J. Paul Getty Museum
Published: 2014
Language: eng
Number of pages: 144
ISBN-13: 9781606063217
Subjects: Plants; Botany; Plants in literature; Folklore; Greek Mythology; Mythology; Roman Mythology
Description: This engaging book focuses on the perennially fascinating topic of plants in Greek and Roman myth. The author, an authority on the gardens, art, and literature of the classical world, introduces the book's main themes with a discussion of gods and heroes in ancient Greek and Roman gardens. The following chapters recount the everyday uses and broader cultural meaning of plants with particularly strong mythological associations. These include common garden plants such as narcissus and hyacinth; pomegranate and apple, which were potent symbols of fertility; and sources of precious incense including frankincense and myrrh. Following the sweeping botanical commentary are the myths themselves, told in the original voice of Ovid, classical antiquity's most colorful mythographer. The volume's interdisciplinary approach will appeal to a wide audience, ranging from readers interested in archaeology, classical literature, and ancient history to garden enthusiasts. With an original translation of selections from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses, ' an extensive bibliography, a useful glossary of names and places, and a rich selection of images including exquisite botanical illustrations, this book is unparalleled in scope and realization.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 141-143).
Table of contents: title: Ovid's Metamorphoses and the mythology of plants; title: Gods in love; title: Hubris and human excess; title: Piety and devotion; title: Mortals in love; title: A guided walk through Ovid's garden.