Smilax (mythology) explained

In Greek mythology Smilax (; pronounced as /el/; Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Σμῖλαξ|Smílax|bindweed[1]) was the name of a nymph who was in love with Crocus[2] and was turned into the plant bearing her name (the bindweed). Ancient sources with information about her and her tale are few and far between.

Etymology

Variants of the word Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: σμίλαξ include Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: μῖλαξ, milax, and Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: (σ)μῖλος, (s)milos, which point to a pre-Greek origin for the noun according to Robert Beekes.

Mythology

Details of her story are vague and sparse. Pliny writes that Smilax was turned into bindweed shrub for loving the young Crocus.[3] Ovid writes that the smilax and crocus both tell a love story,[4] and Nonnus also mentions Crocus' love for Smilax, the "airgarlanded girl".[5]

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Liddell & Scott (1940), A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press, "σμῖλαξ"
  2. [William Smith (lexicographer)|William Smith]
  3. [Pliny the Elder]
  4. [Ovid]
  5. [Nonnus]