This week's #MythologyMonday theme is trees 🌲
Many stories in #GreekMythology have trees in it, some of which I will be telling in this thread.
The most famous tree-related myth must be the transformation of Daphne. Hit with Eros' fiery arrows, #Apollon was burning with desire for the nymph and pursued her when she fled from his advances. Feeling her strength wane, Daphne prayed for help from either her father or Gaia and was turned into the first laurel tree.
@mythology Another target of #Apollon's desire, but one that willingly became his lover, is Kyparissos, a beautiful boy from the island of Keos. #Kyparissos accidentally killed his beloved pet stag and begged of Apollon that he would mourn forever. Apollon tried to comfort him but no words nor gentle touch would soothe Kyparissos' grief until the god finally relented and turned his lover into a cypress tree, still associated with grief and mourning in Greece.
@mythology The laurel and the cypress are both sacred to Apollon. But what happens if someone cuts down a sacred tree? Erysichthon found out the hard way: he cut down a poplar in #Demeter's sacred grove but the goddess felt that her holy tree was in pain and she disguised herself as her own priestess, warning Erysichthon but he would not listen so she cursed him with insatiable hunger so that when he had eaten away all his wealth, he ate himself.
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