What is the legend of Artemis bound by willows?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
December 14, 2001
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When one first spots a roserush (Lygodesmia aphylla (Nuttall) de Candolle), it appears a flower out of place: a lone bloom of rose-pink petals held aloft on a thin round stem, dancing among the grasses of a dry prairie. It is a solitary plant; one never finds groups of roserushes. It amazes in its difference to the surrounding scene. One must stop and gaze at the tissue thin petals, the curls of stamens—graceful, fragile, glorious, and alone. David Don named the genus of roserushes,
Lygodesmia, in 1829.
According to myths, the war with Troy had impacts long beyond the loss of the city. Prior to the war, Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter, Iphigeneia, on an altar of Artemis, goddess of the Moon. He requested favorable winds to Troy. His wife, Clytemnestra, never forgave him for the loss of her child. She took a lover during his absence. Artemis never forgave him either, but she granted the winds he wanted.
When Agamemnon finally returned, Clytemnestra and her lover murdered him.
Revenge was required. It fell to Orestes, the brother of Iphigeneia and the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. He was cursed for the murder of his mother. The Furies hounded him until Athena and Apollo granted forgiveness with one condition: Orestes had to recover a wooden statue of Artemis that fell from heaven into the land of Tauris. Orestes left Greece, but was taken captive by the Taurians.
Orestes was dragged to the temple of Artemis to be sacrificed. There his sister recognized him. Iphigeneia had been spared by Artemis those many years ago and made priestess of the Taurian temple.
But the Taurians worshipped Artemis with bloodlust and human sacrifice. Iphigenia longed to be free of such worship and Orestes had his orders from Apollo. Iphigeneia and Orestes took the wooden statue of Artemis, bundled it in brushwood, and smuggled the statue back to Brauron in Greece.
Iphigenia remained a priestess of Artemis in Brauron. It is said she is buried there. Orestes regained his father's kingdom and ruled until killed by a snake. The story does not tell the fate of the wooden statue.
But in another legend, there was a wild land sacred to Artemis where her animals could roam unharmed. In those wilds, two adventurous brothers, Astrabacus and Alopecus, found a wooden statue of Artemis held upright by willows. Legends do not say how the statue came to be in the willows, only that the brothers went insane at the sight of her beauty. Afterwards, this statue was known either as Artemis Orthia (upright) or Artemis Lygodesma—Artemis Bound by Willows.
The Institute for Systematic Botany at the University of South Florida has photographs of Lygodesmia aphylla, the roserush. To view the photographs, click on the link:
http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/main.asp?plantID=681
Click on the tab marked Images and on the thumbnails to enlarge the photo.
(Compiled from: Florida Wildflowers in Their Natural Communities, Walter Kingsley Taylor, University Press of Florida, Gainesville, 1998 and Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, William Smith, ed., John Murray, Albemarle Street, London, 1902)
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Suggested Reading:
What is the Greek legend of almonds and love? Herbal Folklore - September 1, 2003
Who was Tantalus? What's in a Name? - July 30, 2004
What are laurel leaves? What's in a Name? - October 1, 2004
What does peony have to do with poetry? What's in a Name? - May 2, 2003
Who was Ceres? What's in a Name? - April 16, 2004
What flower was named for an athlete? What's in a Name? - April 26, 2002
What medicinal root is a common vegetable today? Herbal Folklore - November 12, 2001
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Diana (Artemis) the Huntress Frieze
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(c. 1920s) Artist Unknown
The goddess of the hunt takes her traditional posture with a long lean, greyhound, her trusty bow and arrow at her side. Inspired by an original Art Deco frieze, it measures over 2 feet in diameter, substantially sized to showcase the filigree and clean lines epitomizing the 1920’s style. Cast in faux stone designer resin, it is a standout in any collection.
24˝''dia.x1˝''D. 9 lbs.
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The Athena Scrollwork Bench
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Contemporary style with nuances of a Greek period piece
With its intricate, open tracery and gently curved frame, this elegant, versatile bench will be one of the most functional pieces in your home! Fine craftsmen hand-work the curved, tubular metalwork, then finish it in matte black to blend easily with any décor. In the entryway, master suite or even in the garden room, this is an accent piece that’s sure to become a faimly heirloom.
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Apollo’s Lyre Occasional Table
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Hand-carved solid hardwood Victorian antique replica
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Village Square Architectural Garden Well
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A stunning architectural feature, this striking investment in European garden style instantly creates a timelessly romantic landscape. Replicated from a village well in a small Northern Italian square, the ornate black wrought iron with aged rust patina recalls a rich, centuries-old European tradition. The heavyweight hexagonal base is finely sculpted, then cast in quality designer resin with a durable, faux stone finish. Guests will admire your garden creativity when you choose this work of decorative art available only from Design Toscano. Arrives in 3 pieces for easy assembly.
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The Capri Pedestal Wall Fountain
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At just over a yard tall, this superbly sculpted, Italian-style wall fountain is an effortless way to add soothing water music to home or garden. A calming focal point, it is reminiscent of European plaza architecture with stylized acanthus and shell foliate elements surrounding the fully functional, two tier font and decorative metal spigot. Our exclusive, designer resin work of architectural art boasts an adjustable water flow and an indoor/outdoor, UL-listed pump. Assembly required.
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In Nature's Sanctuary St. Francis Garden Sculpture
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Our incredible garden focal point will leave your guests in awe! St. Francis rises over three feet high on his generous, four-foot-long log perch. This Italian patron saint of nature reaches toward the gentle lamb at his feet, showcasing amazing detail from the folds of his garment to his benevolent expression. The artist captures intricacies sometimes lost in sculpts this grand in scale, casting our Toscano exclusive in quality designer resin as an heirloom for decades to come.
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Benson Manor Authentic Foundry Iron Hardwood Bench
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Creates substantial Olde World style and becomes a garden heirloom
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Included in this garden are three different varieties of hosta, which are delightful in combination with the arching fronds of hardy Ostrich Plume Fern. And for color, there are shade-loving plants which will be in bloom from spring well into late summer. All are easy to plant, and like a true naturalized garden, require only a minimum of care to provide years of charm and beauty. These coordinated plants can be arranged as a border, bed or to bring beauty to a north-facing corner or foundation - a place where you thought nothing except weeds would ever grow!
In this collection you will receive:
3 Ostrich Plume Ferns
1 Pink Bleeding Heart
15 Perennial Lily Bargain Bag
7 Daylily Bargain Bag
3 Mixed Monarda
1 Blue Hosta
1 Green and White Hosta
1 Royal Standard Hosta
1 Pink Dwarf Bleeding Heart
3 Chantreyland Violas
6 Lily-of-the-Valley
3 Forget-Me-Nots
3 Red Coral Bells
1 Garden equals 48 prime-quality plants
(A $151.85 Catalog Value.)
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This collection includes:
- Ostrich Plume Fern (3), Luxuriant, graceful fronds reach a length of 24-36'' long and are 18'' wide.
- Pink Bleeding Heart (1), Long, arching sprays drip with dozens of inflated pink heart-shaped flowers with dainty white tears.
- Perennial Lily Bargain Bag (15), Asiatic lily varieties produce rich colored blooms.
- Daylily Bargain Bag (7), The mainstay of the summer garden!
- Mixed Monarda (3), A delightful mixture of white, pink, purple and red flower heads adorn gardens and borders for weeks.
- Blue Hosta (1), Unusually large, blue-green leaves. Lavender blooms. This is a low maintenance ground cover.
- Green and White Hosta (1), Two-tone ornamental with lilac flowers grows 15-20'' tall. Is a low maintenance ground cover.
- Royal Standard Hosta (1), Shapely, lush foliage. Scented white flowers. Grows 24-30'' tall, 48'' across. Is a low maintenance ground cover.
- Pink Dwarf Bleeding Heart (1), Super-hardy, carefree plant is covered with pink pendant flowers spring through early summer, again in fall.
- Chantreyland Viola (3), "Everblooming" variety brings reliable rays of sunshine from early spring through summer.
- Lily-of-the-Valley (6), Clusters of fragrant white bells on 8-10'' stems appear in mid to late spring amid emerald-green leaves.
- Forget-Me-Nots (3), Decorative, low-growing perennial is loaded with hundreds of bright blue flowers.
- Red Coral Bells (3), Graceful 15-20'' spikes with crimson flowers above mounds of light foliage .
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