What is the Greek legend of almonds and love?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
September 1, 2003
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King Sithon of Thrace had three daughters: Pallene, so beautiful that men were willing to risk death for her hand in marriage, Rhoeteia, so beloved that the promontory of Troy was named for her, and Phyllis 'green leaf' who fell in love with a soldier.
Aethra was a woman of noble birth. She was kidnapped by Castor and Pollux (the Gemini twins) and ended up a slave for Helen. When Paris carried Helen off, Aethra was forced along. So it was that her grandson,
Demophon [de mof' on], went with the Greeks into battle against the city of Troy.
Demophon succeeded in freeing his grandmother and getting her out of the besieged city. They returned through Thrace. There the young soldier met Phyllis and they fell in love. Demophon of Attica and Phyllis of Thrace were to be married.
But Demophon had obligations to meet before their nuptials. He and his grandmother left for home. He would return for Phyllis as soon as his obligations were concluded. But he lingered in his homeland far longer than he had promised.
Phyllis wondered if she would ever see Demophon again. After months of waiting, she decided that Demophon did not love her and had forgotten her. With a broken heart, she dressed, took a rope, and hanged herself in shame.
The gods took pity. At the moment of death, the gods changed Phyllis into a beautiful almond tree, but she remained leafless and forlorn. When Demophon finally arrived in Thrace, he was shown the tree and threw his arms about her. The almond knew that she was loved and pale pink blossoms burst forth from her branches. (Compiled from A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, edited by William Smith, John Murray, London, 1902)
Árboles en España has several photographs of the almond, Prunus dulcis. To view the photographs, click on the link:
http://www.arbolesornamentales.com/Prunusdulcis.htm
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
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