Table of Contents
The Myrtle Tree Magic Origins
- Loves won, loves lost, and loves revenge. A maiden with loss, in love, and a jilted goddess.
Allow me to introduce a beautiful Grecian maiden named Myrene. One day, robbers murdered both of her parents and her brother. After desolating the house, the villains carried Myrene away. She escaped in due course.
She may have sought refuge in the temple of Venus. We are told that when she returned; they made her a priestess of Venus.
Time passed, and it came time for a great festival. Within the crowd, she recognized one man as one of the assassins of her family. She had him seized and forced to reveal where the assassins remained in hiding.
There was a man who loved Myrene, and she loved him in return. He asked her for a promise. ‘If I seize the rest of these assassins, and bring them to punishment, will you yield your hand to me?’ Myrene agreed. Her lover was victorious and got his sworn reward.
Myrene, taking a husband, insulted the goddess Venus. She had lost her favorite priestess. Venus has a simple solution. First, she caused the bride’s groom to die abruptly. Then, she transformed Myrene into the Myrtle. As proof of Venus’ love, the Myrtle remained green and sweet-scented all its days.
Venus gives us the Myrtle and is the Greek goddess of love. This is one way the Myrtle tree meaning relates to love.
Myrtle and Marriage
During the Venus festival in April, married couples wore crowns of Myrtle. The historian Cato assigned the proper name Myrtus conjugula to Myrtle, and perhaps for good reason.
Grooms in Rome would deck themselves out with myrtle on their wedding day. Judaic people would adorn Jewish brides and their wedding canopies with Myrtle. Brides of traditional German weddings still wear wreaths of Myrtle.
Myrtle Tree and Dark Love
- For a good time, call Myrtle.
There are some dark love examples as well. At the festival of Adonis’s mother Myrrha, who conceived Adonis while entertaining her own father, unchaste married women would wear wreaths of Myrtle. Dante depicted victims of love behind myrtle as Virgil leads him through the infernal regions.
Some cultures forbid Myrtle at some festivals because they believed it encouraged sexual gratification. Hosts of feasts would give guests crowns made of various plants. It is said that those who enjoyed carousing were most likely to be conferred with a crown of Myrtle.
Myrtle Tree and Death
- Wear a ring of mistletoe will ward off sickness and carrying some will heal fresh wounds. (!! Do not apply mistletoe to open wounds.)
An old tradition in Tripoli, Greece, was to plant Myrtle, Roses, Orange blossoms or Jasmine around graves. Greek tradition also included scattering the flowers of Myrtle, Amranth and Polyanthus over their tombs. We find in Greek legend where Electra laments her father’s tomb was not adorned with Myrtle:
Where my dear father’s manes gratified.” (Potter 595)
Conclusion
Perhaps the poetic grace of René Rapin best sums up the Myrtle Tree meaning:
“When once, as Fame reports, the Queen of Love
In Ida’s valley raised a Myrtle grove,
Young wanton Cupids danced a summer’’ night
Round the sweet place by Cynthia’’ silver light.
Venus this charming green alone prefers,
And this is all the verdant kind is hers:
Hence the bride’’ bow with Myrtle wreaths is graced,
When the long-wished-for night is come at last;
And Juno, Queen of nuptial Mysteries,
Makes all her torches of these fragrant trees.
Hence in Elysian fields are Myrtles said
To favor lovers with their friendly shade,
There Phaedra,, Procris (ancient poets feign),
And Eriphyle still of love complain,
Whose unextinguished flames ev’n after death remain.
But Myrtles have a nobler claim than Love,
For valiant Tudert from the Myrtle Grove
At the poor Sabines Cost adored his brow,
And gave new honours to the graceful Bough,
On a low trunk the Myrtle lifts her head,
Around her odorous leaves and frequent branches spread,
Whose milder fragrance spotless Nymphs desire,
And much lively green, and much her form admire.
Nor is this all the honour Myrtles claim:
When from the Sabine war Tudertus came,
He wreathed his temples from the Myrtle grove,
Sacred to Triumph as before to Love.” (Rapin Book II 96)
Bibliography
Beyerl, P. V. (1998). A compendium of Herbal Magick. Phoenix Pub.
Cunningham, S. (2016). Cunningham’s encyclopedia of magical herbs. Llewellyn Publications.
Folkard, R. (2010). Plant Lore, legends, and lyrics: Embracing the myths, traditions, superstitions, and folk-lore.. Nabu Press.
Potter, J., & Boyd, J. (1846). Archæologia græca; or, the antiquities of greece. Blackie & Son.
Rapin René, & Gardiner, J. (1795). Rapin, of gardens: A Latin poem in four books. Printed by J. Smeeton.
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