Forest Folklore, Mythology and Romance by Alexander Porteous

Author:Alexander Porteous [Porteous, Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781406796681
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Hesperides Press
Published: 2006-08-22T00:00:00+00:00

TRANSFORMATIONS INTO TREES

Seeing that at a very ancient period the belief was held that mankind originated from trees, it is not surprising to find the converse belief that men and women were often transformed into trees, and this was equivalent to translation to the company of the gods. Classical Mythology abounds in fables of this kind, several of which have already been mentioned.

A devoted couple named Philemon and Baucis were one day sitting outside their home when two men approached asking hospitality, and saying that every other house in the town had spurned them. This hospitality was cordially given. Next morning the two men, who really were the gods Zeus and Hermes, took them to the top of a hill, from whence they witnessed the destruction of the town by a flood, their own house being alone left standing but transformed into a magnificent temple. On the gods asking them to express their desires they asked that they might be appointed to officiate as priests in that temple, and to be united in death. Their prayer was granted, and one day, long after, when they were standing outside the temple, they were suddenly transformed, the one into an Oak tree, and the other into a Lime tree.

When Phaeton, unwarrantably driving the chariot of the sun, was hurled from his seat by the indignant Zeus, he fell into the River Eridanos. His sisters, the Heliades, who were standing on the river banks, witnessed his downfall, and, as they bitterly lamented, were changed into Poplar trees. Their tears are still said to flow and to become amber as soon as they fall into the water of the river.

Pluto or Hadés, it is said, dearly loved the O’Keanis Leuké, and on her death he caused the White Poplar to spring up on the Elysian Plain.

There were once two beautiful youths named respectively Cyparissos and Hyacinthus, who were much loved by Apollo. On one occasion the former accidentally killed a favourite stag, and being so grieved he pined away until the god in pity changed him into a Cypress tree. Another legend regarding the origin of the Cypress is that these trees, before they became trees, had been the daughters of Eteocles. Being carried away by the goddesses in a series of whirlwinds, after revolving in endless circles they at length fell into a pond. Gaea pitied them and changed them into Cypress trees. Yet a third legend tells how Sylvanus had loved a child named Cyparissus and changed him into a Cypress tree. Rapin tells the tale in the following verse:

“A lovely fawn there was—Sylvanus’ joy,

Nor less the fav’rite of the sportive boy,

Which on soft grass was in a secret shade,

Beneath a tree’s thick branches cooly laid;

A luckless dart rash Cyparissus threw,

And undesignedly the darling slew.

But soon he to his grief the error found,

Lamenting, when too late, the fatal wound:

Nor yet Sylvanus spared the guiltless child,

But the mischance with bitter words reviled,

This struck so deep in his relenting breast,

With grief and shame, and

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