Finally, the randomonia continues.

 Finally, the randomonia continues. 

August 1023, 2014

Random entries* from “a work in progress,” Gaspar Stephens’ Neo Encyclopedia of Greek and Roman Mythology (still in progress and still listed as forthcoming from Balthazar & Melchior Stephens Press). For previous entries from the Neo Encyc. featured on The Ambiguities, see August 33, 2014 and August 59, 2014.

 

Iulapios
based on a description
in Spiff & Randall

Minthe (also Menthe, Mintha, or Mentha) [Gk. Μίνθη  or Μήνθη]. According to Spiff & Randall (Dictionary of Greek and Babylonian Amorous Biography, 1957), compare Lit & Niagara (The Hits and Myths of Ancient Greece and Rome, 1917), it is unclear whether “in a lighter moment,” Hades pursued Minthe, the “lovely meadow nymph associated with the river Cocytus” [S&R], or “dazzled by his brooding, Byronic beauty,” she pursued him [L&N]. In any case, Persephone discovered the “imminent seduction” [both modern sources] and intervened. Poor Hades she dragged back into the underworld by his ear. Poorer Minthe she turned, according to Strabo, who alleges the seductio was not interrupted; rather Hades and Minthe engaged in a long-term affair – poorer Minthe, Persephone turned into “the garden mint some call hedyosmon” [Gk. ἡδύοσμον, meaning “sweet-smelling”], and not by simply going “Poof!” but spreading the nymph about either by having her trampled underfoot, or trampling her underfoot herself. Since then, parts of “Mint” have been torn off or up for various purposes – combined with rosemary and myrtle to dress dead bodies, and by itself to dress an alcoholic mixture used in the Eleusinian mysteries and at horse races: In ancient times the drink was called kykeon [Gk.  κυκεϖν  from κυκάω, “to stir, to mix”]; and outside of the mysteries it was apparently consumed mainly by peasants. In more recent times the drink took its name from Minthe’s brother Iulapios and seems to be consumed mainly by people wearing fancier pants.

05.20.17

_____________

   * Our motto: “Everything is random, and there is nothing that not random is.”