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Mythic Plants

Potions and Poisons from the Gardens of the Gods
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( 37 ratings, 10 reviews)
Brief Description
In a beautiful, fully illustrated package, this modern, witty take on familiar Greek myths focuses on the wild and wonderful role plants have played in the stories over centuries. It is Song of Achilles meets The Secret Life of Trees. See the ever-popular Greek myths anew... Read More
Format: Hardback
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In a beautiful, fully illustrated package, this modern, witty take on familiar Greek myths with a focus on the wild and wonderful role plants have played in the stories over centuries is Song of Achilles meets The Secret Life of Trees.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
In a beautiful, fully illustrated package, this modern, witty take on familiar Greek myths focuses on the wild and wonderful role plants have played in the stories over centuries. It is Song of Achilles meets The Secret Life of Trees.

See the ever-popular Greek myths anew by focusing on the fascinating roles plants play in the stories.

When Prometheus stole fire from the Olympian gods and gave it to mankind, he hid it in a stalk of giant fennel. Ancient Greeks waiting to question the oracles were given cannabis as part of their cleansing rituals. A quince fruit started the Trojan war. The goddess Demeter was so distraught when Hades kidnapped her daughter that she caused winter to blanket the earth, killing all plants.

In Greek mythology, plants were used for tools, intoxication, warfare, food, medicine, magic, and rituals. Achilles used yarrow (now named after him as Achillea) to stanch the flow of blood from his soldiers' wounds. (It still works.) Wine was long used by the gods, but there is evidence that other plantsβ€”such as oleander, mandrake, and ivyβ€”were added to wine to create the frenzy for which Dionysus’s followers were well known.

Some of those plants were real and still exist today; some of them are mythological, with powers we can only imagine. Mythic Plants focuses on how the ancient Greeks used plants in their lives, loves, and conquestsβ€”particularly on ones we can cultivate today. Includes tips throughout for bringing these ancient plants into your garden.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781523524396

Publisher: Workman Publishing

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 13 March 2025

Country: United States

Imprint: Workman Adult

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 206.0mm

Weight: 460g

Pages: 192

About the Author

Ellen Zachos is an expert forager and longtime foraging instructor. She is the author of six books, including The Wildcrafted Cocktail and Backyard Foraging. She is co-host of the Plantrama podcast and can be found online at backyardforager.com.

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