Botanical Myths

How often, when choosing flowers for a loved one or seedlings for the garden, do you think about their symbolic meaning? Since ancient times, plants and trees have provided us with food and shelter, medicine and clothing, colors and fragrances. But they also have another, secret life – one that is hidden in the legends and traditions of the peoples of the world.
«Botanical Myths» invite you to embark on a fascinating journey through the gardens of human culture, where eternal stories grow from ancient myths. This book will tell you how our familiar herbs, flowers, and trees became divine symbols, magical amulets, elegant messages, and even participants in legendary events. You will learn how the lily came from the milk of the goddess Hera and later became a symbol of the Virgin Mary and the emblem of French kings, what flowers are loved by mermaids and woodland spirits, and what to do if a stale pumpkin or watermelon has turned into... a vampire. You'll visit the asphodel meadows of the ancient realm of the dead, peek into a 16th-century pharmacy, and, armed with all the necessary knowledge, head out on the night of Kupala for the mysterious flower of the fern.
What does Ophelia's bouquet in Shakespeare's tragedy «Hamlet» symbolize? Why is the primrose called the «key flower»? And how did the rose become red, the lily white, and the tulips all the colors of the rainbow? You will learn about this and much more from this book, and you will also learn to compose and decipher special messages using the language of flowers – floriography. Colorful and black-and-white illustrations will complement the magical bouquet of ancient myths, Christian traditions, and folk legends about the realm of flora.
The series of books «Myths of the World. The Most Fabulous Stories of Humanity» will introduce you to captivating stories from different countries and peoples. It is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the world of other cultures and broaden your horizons. Become a witness to epic battles of the gods, mysterious rituals, and legendary heroes!