Research Catalog

The mythology of plants : botanical lore from ancient Greece and Rome

Title
The mythology of plants : botanical lore from ancient Greece and Rome / Annette Giesecke.
Author
Giesecke, Annette
Publication
  • Los Angeles, CA : J. Paul Getty Museum, [2014]
  • ©2014

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StatusFormatAccessCall NumberItem Location
TextUse in library JFD 15-1819Schwarzman Building - Main Reading Room 315

Details

Additional Authors
Ovid, 43 B.C.-17 A.D. or 18 A.D.
Description
144 pages : color illustrations, color map; 23 cm
Summary
This engaging book focuses on the perennially fascinating topic of plants in Greek and Roman myth. The author, an authority on the gardens, art, and literature of the classical world, introduces the book's main themes with a discussion of gods and heroes in ancient Greek and Roman gardens. The following chapters recount the everyday uses and broader cultural meaning of plants with particularly strong mythological associations. These include common garden plants such as narcissus and hyacinth; pomegranate and apple, which were potent symbols of fertility; and sources of precious incense including frankincense and myrrh. Following the sweeping botanical commentary are the myths themselves, told in the original voice of Ovid, classical antiquity's most colorful mythographer. The volume's interdisciplinary approach will appeal to a wide audience, ranging from readers interested in archaeology, classical literature, and ancient history to garden enthusiasts. With an original translation of selections from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses, ' an extensive bibliography, a useful glossary of names and places, and a rich selection of images including exquisite botanical illustrations, this book is unparalleled in scope and realization.
Subjects
Genre/Form
Folklore.
Bibliography (note)
  • Includes bibliographical references (pages 141-143).
Contents
Ovid's Metamorphoses and the mythology of plants -- Gods in love -- Hubris and human excess -- Piety and devotion -- Mortals in love -- A guided walk through Ovid's garden.
Call Number
JFD 15-1819
ISBN
  • 9781606063217 (hardcover)
  • 1606063219 (hardcover)
LCCN
2013036033
OCLC
858672639
Author
Giesecke, Annette, author.
Title
The mythology of plants : botanical lore from ancient Greece and Rome / Annette Giesecke.
Publisher
Los Angeles, CA : J. Paul Getty Museum, [2014]
Copyright Date
©2014
Type of Content
text
Type of Medium
unmediated
Type of Carrier
volume
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 141-143).
Added Author
Ovid, 43 B.C.-17 A.D. or 18 A.D. Metamorphoses. Selections. English.
Research Call Number
JFD 15-1819
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