MYRRH FOR Erasmus+ project
AITZIBER URIARTE AND NEREA GARCIA
scientific names
vulgar names
-Spanish:mirra
-Basque:mirra
-Greek:σμύρνα-English:myrrh
-Italian:mirra
description
Myrrh grows to a height of about 9 ft (2.7 m)
The colour of the trunk is gray and thick and the main branches are knotted with smaller branches protruding at a right angle and ending in sharp spines.
Myrrh has been used since ancient times in incense, perfumes, and holy ointments.
mythological symbolism
Myrrha was a mortal woman in Greek mythology.
She was the daughter of King Cinyras of Cyprus, and Queen Cenchreis; falling in love with her father, she tricked him into sleeping with her and got pregnant.
When Cinyras learned who she truly was, he grabbed his sword and tried to catch her and kill her. Myrrh fled and ran through Arabia for nine months, before she started pleading to gods for help and mercy.
The gods decided to help her, so they transformed her into a myrrh-tree. Her tears became the sap of the tree, and she later gave birth to a baby, who was named Adonis.
According to another version of the myth, Myrrha's transformation into a tree was considered a punishment of silence for what she had done, rather than deliverance from her anguish.
uses
- Myrrh is used as a fragrance in cosmetics and as a flavoring agent in foods and drinks.
- It has also been used as an astringent, as an antiseptic to be applied to inflamed lesions of the throat and mouth, and as an emmenagogue and an antispasmodic, and for the treatment of cancer and infectious disease
However, there is limited clinical information to support these uses.
symbolism
As we know the Magic kings of the East were the first to see the newborn child Jesus and they gave him some gifts.
One of them is myrhh ; that is a substance smeared on the body of people who died. With this demonstrating that Jesus was a man who would die to save us.
Therefore we recognize Jesus as the Mesias who died to save us.
video
Aphrodite-Ariel
Ares-Phebus
Adonis-Hercules
Eris-Eris
Beroe-Melody
QUESTIONS
- 1. What is the vulgar name in Spanish of the myrrh plant?
- 2. In Greek mythology, what type of woman was the myrrh?
a. Inmortal
b. Mortal
c. Beautifull
- 3. What was the name of myrrh´s son?
- 4. What for is used this plant?
a. To avoided headache
b. To cure flue
c. To treat cancer