MYRRHA'S ‘WEDDING' (OV. <i>MET</i>. 10. 446–70)

Within the larger context of metamorphoses into plants in Greek and Roman mythology, the paper aims to analyse the myth of Myrrha and her metamorphosis into a tree, focusing on the triggering cause of the transformation as well as the response given to her newly-acquired form of life . Myrrha's transformation into a myrrh tree takes place as a consequence of her transgressive incestuous act of love with her father, Cinyras . Her metamorphosis occurs as a consequence of sinful passion -passion in extremis -, and she sacrifices her body (and human life/existence) in her escape . I will look at Ovid's version of the myth as well as Ted Hughes's adaptation of the story from his Tales from Ovid . My discussion of the transformation into tree starts out from the consideration that metamorphosis is the par excellence place and space of in-betweenness implying an inherent hybridity and blurred, converging subjectivities, a state of being that allows for passages, overlaps, crossings, and simultaneities . I am interested to see in what ways Myrrha's incestuous desire for her father as well as her metamorphosis into a tree can be "rooted" back to her great-grandfather Pygmalion's transgressive love for the ivory statue Galatea .

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MYRRHA'S ‘WEDDING' (OV. MET. 10. 446–70)

Cited by 4 publications

References 2 publications

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Mutuality and Male Headship: Liturgical Evidence from Marriage Rituals throughout History

Spaces in Between in the Myth of Myrrha: A Metamorphosis into Tree

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