Lotus tree: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Plant in Greek and Roman mythology}} |
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{{Unreferenced|date=December 2007}} |
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The '''lotus tree''' ( |
The '''lotus tree''' ({{lang-grc-gre|λωτός}}, ''lōtós'') is a plant that is referred to in stories from [[Greek mythology|Greek]] and [[Roman mythology]]. |
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* In [[Homer]]'s ''[[Odyssey]]'', the lotus (tree) bore a fruit that caused a pleasant drowsiness and was the only food of an island people called the [[Lotophagi]] or Lotus-eaters. |
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* In another story, the nymph, [[Lotis]], is turned into a lotus tree. |
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The lotus tree is mentioned in [[Homer]]'s ''[[Odyssey]]'' as bearing a fruit that caused a pleasant drowsiness, and which was said to be the only food of an island people called the Lotophagi or [[lotus-eaters]]. When they ate of the lotus tree, they would forget their friends and homes and would lose their desire to return to their native land in favor of living in idleness.<ref>Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, page 526, by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer</ref> |
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Botanical candidates for the lotus (tree) are discussed in the [[Lotophagi#Which "lotus" did the Lotus-eaters eat?|Lotophagi]] article. |
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Botanical candidates for the lotus tree include the persimmon (''[[Diospyros lotus]]''), which is a sub-evergreen tree native to [[Southwest Asia]] and [[Southeast Europe]] that grows to about {{convert|25|ft|abbr=on}} bearing yellowish green flowers, as well as ''[[Ziziphus lotus]]'', a plant with an edible fruit closely related to the [[jujube]], native to the [[Mediterranean region]] of Europe, Asia and [[North Africa]]. |
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The lotus tree is also mentioned in the Bible at Job 40:21-22, verses which refer to a large [[hippopotamus]]-like creature referred to as "[[behemoth]]". The passage states: "He lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh. The lotus trees cover him with their shade; The willows by the brook surround him." (NAB) |
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In [[Ovid]]'s ''[[Metamorphoses]]'',<ref>Elizabeth Washington Wirt, ''Flora's dictionary''</ref> the [[nymph]] [[Lotis (mythology)|Lotis]] was the beautiful daughter of [[Neptune (mythology)|Neptune]], the god of water and the sea. In order to flee the violent attention of [[Priapus]], she invoked the assistance of the gods, who answered her prayers by turning her into a lotus tree.<ref>Richard Folkard, ''Plant lore, legends, and lyrics''</ref> |
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The [[Quran]] has a legendary plant, the [[Sidrat al-Muntaha|Lote tree]], that marks the end of the [[Seven Heavens|seventh heaven]].<ref>{{Cite quran|53|14|style=ns}}</ref> In the Bible, the [[Book of Job]] also has two lines ({{bibleverse-nb||job|40:21-22}}), with the Hebrew word צֶאֱלִים{{ltr}} (''tse'elim''),<ref>{{Strong-number|צֶאֱלִים|H|6628}}</ref> which appears [[Hapax legomenon|nowhere else]] in the Bible. A recent translation into English has been "lotus trees" since the publication of the [[Revised Version]] of the [[King James Bible]] of 1881. However, it is otherwise rendered simply as "shady trees".<ref name=Barnes1857>{{Cite book| publisher = Leavitt and Allen| last = Barnes| first = Albert| author-link = Albert Barnes (theologian) | title = Notes, critical, illustrative, and practical, on the book of Job with a new translation, and an introductory dissertation| location = New York| access-date = 2014-09-15| date = 1857 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=0-dHAQAAIAAJ | volume = II | at = p. 276}}, or [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/job/40.htm html].</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[List of plants known as lotus]] |
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*[[Lotus (genus)]] |
* [[Lotus (genus)|''Lotus'' (genus)]] |
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* ''[[Nymphaea lotus]]'' |
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* [[Lotus-eaters#Mythology|Lotus-eaters]] |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist|30em}} |
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{{Greek religion|state=collapsed}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lotus Tree}} |
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[[Category:Mythological plants]] |
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{{AncientGreek-reli-stub}} |
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[[fr:Lotos]] |
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[[no:Lotustre]] |
Revision as of 23:59, 20 January 2024
The lotus tree (Greek: λωτός, lōtós) is a plant that is referred to in stories from Greek and Roman mythology.
The lotus tree is mentioned in Homer's Odyssey as bearing a fruit that caused a pleasant drowsiness, and which was said to be the only food of an island people called the Lotophagi or lotus-eaters. When they ate of the lotus tree, they would forget their friends and homes and would lose their desire to return to their native land in favor of living in idleness.[1]
Botanical candidates for the lotus tree include the persimmon (Diospyros lotus), which is a sub-evergreen tree native to Southwest Asia and Southeast Europe that grows to about 25 ft (7.6 m) bearing yellowish green flowers, as well as Ziziphus lotus, a plant with an edible fruit closely related to the jujube, native to the Mediterranean region of Europe, Asia and North Africa.
In Ovid's Metamorphoses,[2] the nymph Lotis was the beautiful daughter of Neptune, the god of water and the sea. In order to flee the violent attention of Priapus, she invoked the assistance of the gods, who answered her prayers by turning her into a lotus tree.[3]
The Quran has a legendary plant, the Lote tree, that marks the end of the seventh heaven.[4] In the Bible, the Book of Job also has two lines (40:21–22), with the Hebrew word צֶאֱלִים (tse'elim),[5] which appears nowhere else in the Bible. A recent translation into English has been "lotus trees" since the publication of the Revised Version of the King James Bible of 1881. However, it is otherwise rendered simply as "shady trees".[6]
See also
References
- ^ Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, page 526, by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer
- ^ Elizabeth Washington Wirt, Flora's dictionary
- ^ Richard Folkard, Plant lore, legends, and lyrics
- ^ Quran 53:14
- ^ צֶאֱלִים
- ^ Barnes, Albert (1857). Notes, critical, illustrative, and practical, on the book of Job with a new translation, and an introductory dissertation. Vol. II. New York: Leavitt and Allen. p. 276. Retrieved 2014-09-15., or html.