Hello one and all!
The Greek myth about the heliotrope deals with a flower - one which has been lost to time. There is a flower from Peru called by that name, but this wasn't the one that was referred to in this story. It has been theorized that the heliotrope may have been: marigold, aster or wartwort.
The Myth of the Heliotrope
Once upon a time the god Helios spotted Leukothea, the daughter of the king of Persia, reputed to be one the most beautiful woman in the world. Her appearance bewitched him, so much that he became obsessed, and could think of no other thing. Maddened by his passions, the god transformed into Leukothea's mother, walked into her chambers, dismissed all of her servants and proceeded to seduce her.
The nymph Clytie, one of Helios' lovers, learned of the liaison and her heart was broken. It was all too much for the spurned lover to take and she reported Leukothea's tryst to the Persian king. The king promptly had his daughter entombed for being unchaste. The sun god learned of his new mortal lover's death and he hastened to her tomb, sprinkled nectar on the ground, and let an incense tree grow in the place as a tribute to the woman.
The death hurt Helios. His rage increased when learned that it was Clytie, his former lover, who had been responsible for Leukothea's demise. It didn't matter how much she begged for him to love her again, Helios would have nothing to do with her and pushed away all of her advances.
After Clytie had attempted to convince him and failed for the thousandth time it dawned on her that the love was lost. In a trance, she wandered around the earth and pined, while she became more and more disheveled, though she didn't notice; she just shunned all company, food and drink while she ambled along.
On the ninth day she fell to her knees and watched the sun's path through the sky; the only thoughts in her mind was of Helios, and she prayed that he would look on her with kindness again. As these emotions broiled within her, her limbs changed shape until she had metamorphosed into the heliotrope flower. It is said that, even as a flower, she still follows the movement of her one true love, the sun.
Thank you for reading!
The Greek myth about the heliotrope deals with a flower - one which has been lost to time. There is a flower from Peru called by that name, but this wasn't the one that was referred to in this story. It has been theorized that the heliotrope may have been: marigold, aster or wartwort.
The Myth of the Heliotrope
Once upon a time the god Helios spotted Leukothea, the daughter of the king of Persia, reputed to be one the most beautiful woman in the world. Her appearance bewitched him, so much that he became obsessed, and could think of no other thing. Maddened by his passions, the god transformed into Leukothea's mother, walked into her chambers, dismissed all of her servants and proceeded to seduce her.
The nymph Clytie, one of Helios' lovers, learned of the liaison and her heart was broken. It was all too much for the spurned lover to take and she reported Leukothea's tryst to the Persian king. The king promptly had his daughter entombed for being unchaste. The sun god learned of his new mortal lover's death and he hastened to her tomb, sprinkled nectar on the ground, and let an incense tree grow in the place as a tribute to the woman.
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| "Our Lady of the Cow Parsley" by Élisabeth Sonrel. |
The death hurt Helios. His rage increased when learned that it was Clytie, his former lover, who had been responsible for Leukothea's demise. It didn't matter how much she begged for him to love her again, Helios would have nothing to do with her and pushed away all of her advances.
After Clytie had attempted to convince him and failed for the thousandth time it dawned on her that the love was lost. In a trance, she wandered around the earth and pined, while she became more and more disheveled, though she didn't notice; she just shunned all company, food and drink while she ambled along.
 |
| "Clytie" by Frederic Leighton. |
On the ninth day she fell to her knees and watched the sun's path through the sky; the only thoughts in her mind was of Helios, and she prayed that he would look on her with kindness again. As these emotions broiled within her, her limbs changed shape until she had metamorphosed into the heliotrope flower. It is said that, even as a flower, she still follows the movement of her one true love, the sun.
Thank you for reading!
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