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The first Adonis of the year, there were a number of these showing today even though it wasn't particularly bright. Its wonderful to see them on the wing again.
Devoted to St Valentine day. Some info for the plant and origin of name.
Rare annual plant, native to Crete, hence the name of the subspecies. It blooms from February to April. The main color of the petals is often yellow and kind microcarpa is quite widespread throughout the Mediterranean, often red. The species found in very small numbers in Amnissos hill 5 Km east of Heraklion.
An ancient greek myth:
The name of the plant
Adonis was the fruit of profane love of myrrh for her father, King Kinyras of Paphos. The myrrh was transformed into a tree as punishment for sin and the trunk of the tree or myrrh myrrh born infant 'Adonis. Venus placed in secret in wooden casket and delivered him to Persephone to raise him to Hades. As Adonis grew beauty was so great that Persephone fell in love, she refused to give Venus and wanted to keep him forever in the dark world. Venus asked the arbitration of Zeus, who decided that the 'Adonis would live four months with Persephone in the Underworld, four months with Aphrodite and could spare the rest of the time as wanted. The 'Adonis chose to allocate the extra time with Venus as their love was mutual. The Venus devoted himself so passionately that Mars blind jealous sent wild boar and killed before her eyes. From the tears of inconsolable Venus grew roses and blood drops to tragic transformed the beautiful flower. (Ovid Metamorphoses)
Adonis or Tammuz in Phoenician (Adon = sir and God, salutation of supreme god in Semitic) symbolizes death and rebirth.
The ancient Greeks celebrated teams in honor of Adonis and Aphrodite at the spring equinox. Wooden effigies of the god adorned with flowers exclusively from grieving women who religiously were doing all the funerary rituals.
Then there was a procession of the dead god streets escort mourners chant and a special tube that was called gingras. Women nine days before the feast planted fennel, wheat, lettuce and other plants rapidly germinate and also wilt quickly in ceramic vases called "Adonidos gardens" and that after the procession threw together with wooden dummies either at sea or in river or a source close to the place. This first day was called "Afanismos". The day celebrated with dances and laughs at rich tables, the "Find", ie the resurrection, rebirth of the god. An excellent description of the celebration in Eidyllia Theocritus.