Mint - How Mint Became the Herb of Hospitality

Mint. That name conjures up the memory of commercials watched when I was a child. Wrigley's Spearmint Gum, Double Mint Gum - "that's the state'mint' of the great mint, double mint gum." Advertising jingles aside, mint is used to flavor mouthwashes, toothpastes, candy canes, ice creams and desserts. It is also used as a tea to calm and settle the tummy.

Mint is often made popular with children as they study a well-known myth about Hades, the God of the Underworld, falling in love with a nymph named Menthe. His wife, in a not surprising jealous rage, trampled Menthe under her feet. Hades changed her into a plant which gives off a wondrous scent when it is crushed.

Sometime after that sad event, mint gained its reputation as the herb of hospitality from another story in Roman/Greek Mythology. The story was written by Ovid, a Roman poet, and recorded in Metamorphoses, Book VIII, lines 611-724.

The story is centered around a couple named Philemon and Baucis. It is a beautiful love story of devotion: Long ago, two strangers were walking through a village. At one thousand homes the strangers asked for aid. At one thousand homes, the villagers ignored them and offered neither food nor drink. Finally an old couple, Philemon and Baucis, offered them a meal. The old ones were not prepared for the visit, but did their best to hurry through the preparations while keeping their guests engaged in happy conversation. Philemon pulled out a bench, and Baucis threw a blanket over it to make it more comfortable. There was a hanging bucket full of water which the guests were invited to use to refresh themselves with before dinner. The table legs were leveled with a handy broken pot, and before she set it, Baucis wiped the surface with fresh mint. A mattress of soft sedges on the floor was covered with their best cloths, which were quite worn, but transformed the rushes into a comfortable couch.

The first course consisted of black and green olives, cherries, and wine as well as radishes, endives, and cheese. The second course favored the strangers with nuts, figs, dates, plums apples and grapes. (This list shows you how hard-working and truly prepared the couple was.) The strangers turned out to be the gods Zeus and Hermes in disguise. They told Philemon and Baucis to follow them up a hill, and they did so. When they turned around, their village was gone and all that remained was their home which was transformed into a temple. Then the Gods said to them, "Ask of us, virtuous old man, and you, wife, worthy of a virtuous husband, what you wish." All they asked for was to live out the remainder of their days caring for the temple, and that they could die in the same hour so they would never have to live without each other. Their wish was granted. When they were very old, and as they stood discussing death, they were turned into two trees, close together.

And that is how mint became the symbol of hospitality.

Diana is a master gardener, family herbalist, and essential oil enthusiast. Learning, and implementing knowledge is a joy. Sharing knowledge brings satisfaction.

Ignorance is far more costly than preparation.
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Greek Mythology Hercules - The Mortal Who Became a God

When Hercules was born to Alcmene, she named him Herakles. But in Roman, Herakles is pronounced Hercules, which is the name we use for Hercules to this day. Hercules in Greek mythology is a great figure of valor and muscle strength. Hercules bravery earned him a place among the gods. After he left the mortal world, he found a position on Mount Olympus, the gods' dwelling place.

Zeus, the King of the gods was an unfaithful husband. He had a weakness for worldly pleasures. He fell in love with Alcmene, the wife of Amphitryon. In a short time, Alcmene conceived Hercules. This angered Hera and she tried to kill Hercules. Hercules survived his first fatal assault with a miracle.

When Hercules reached adulthood he became a famous warrior. He also fell in love with a beautiful woman called Megara. Megara became the mother of Hercules' children and together they made a happy family. However, things were to be different. Hera took a vow to irritate Hercules during his lifetime. She tricked Hercules into a wild rage. In his rage, the mortal god Hercules killed his family. This was exactly what Hera wanted!

When Hercules returned to his normal state of mind, he saw things were beyond remedy. He prayed to Apollo to get rid of his crime. Apollo was the sun god who could read into the future. We find in Greek Mythology that Hercules requested his advice. Apollo assigned him ten important tasks (later it was turned to twelve) as the way of purifying his soul.

The Delphic oracle sent him to Tiryns where the king Eurystheus ruled. Hercules was expected to serve him as laborer for twelve years of his life. However, the difficult service was not fruitless. Apollo promised him immortality. He was to become a god. However, the great Hercules of Greek mythology had one problem, Hera. She actually kept her promise to make Hercules' life as wretched as she could. Nevertheless, with the assistance of Hermes and Athena, Hercules pulled off his term of twelve years with excellence. In addition, he became the greatest mortal on the earth to become a god.

Hercules In Greek Mythology - What Made Him So Special?

The honorable penance of Hercules and his eventual success is what makes him so special. His success brought him immortality, which would have been unthinkable for ordinary mortals. Hercules' first task was to peel off the skin of the horrifying Nemean Lion after capturing one. His next task was to kill The Lernean Hydra. The Lernean Hydra was a serpent with nine heads, which never gave peace to the lives of those around it. The third task for him was to bring a Hind (a sacred red deer) from Ceryneia to the king. The deer was the pet of Diana, the Moon goddess.

The fourth task for Hercules was to bring a live Erymanthian Boar. It was very dangerous to men and animals living around the mountain Erymanthus. Then Hercules was asked to clean up King Augeas' stables in one day. Are you thinking what is so great about it? King Augeas had an awesome amount of cattle of cows, bulls, goats, sheep and horses. Hercules proposed to King Augeas that he would clean the stable only if he rewarded Hercules with a tenth of his cattle.

After this success, Eurystheus was planning to make something tougher for Hercules. He commanded Hercules to force out an enormous flock of birds, which assembled at a lake near the town of Stymphalos. Goddess Athena helped him with a pair of bronze krotala, an item similiar to castanets. The Cretan Bull was an easy task for Hercules. Hercules wrestled the bull, and then delivered it back to King Eurystheus.

The eighth task was to bring the Man-Eating Horses of Diomedes. It was followed by the battle against the Amazonian female army to get the belt of Hippolyte, the queen. The tenth labor was an awesome one. Hercules had to go around the world, to bring the cattle of the Monster Geryon. It had three heads and three sets of legs all attached at the waist.

The tricky assignment was the eleventh one. Eurystheus asked Hercules to get the Apples of the Hesperides. These were the golden apples gifted by Hera to Zeus. These apples were strictly guarded by a hundred-headed dragon, named Ladon, and also by Hesperides, daughters of Atlas. The other obstacle was that Hercules had no idea where these apples of Hesperides were located. Eventually, Hercules found the location from Nereus whom he seized until Nereus gave him the location of the apples of Hesperides.

Then Hercules found out through Prometheus, whom Hercules had helped, that he would have to have Atlas retrieve the apples. Hercules agreed to hold the sky and the earth while Atlas retrieved the apples. When Atlas returned with the apples, he told Hercules that if he would hold the sky and earth for the rest of time, that he would take them to Eurystheus himself. But Hercules fooled Atlas by asking him to hold the earth until he padded his shoulders. Atlas took Hercules place holding the earth, and Hercules picked up the apples and ran.

After making the great Hercules do all sorts of unbelievable errands, Eurystheus made sure that he did not succeed the last time. So, he ordered Hercules to abduct Cerberus, the underworld beast. Did you ever hear a living man visiting the Hades? However, Greek mythology tells us Hercules was no ordinary man. He was a hero.

He eventually did complete all the tasks, purified his soul and rescued the princess of Troy from a ravenous sea-monster. He also facilitated Zeus to beat the Giants in a great battle for the control of Olympus. He married again, to the charming Deianira. She presented him a cloak, which was coated with what she mistakenly thought to be a magic love potion. She was told that the balm would make the person love her forever.

Ironically, it was poison, which burned Hercules skin. Hercules, not being able to endure the pain asked his friends to kindle a fire. Then Hercules placed himself on the fire to be burned up alive. But the gods looked down, and Zeus thought that Hercules had suffered enough. So he asked Hera to end her anger toward Hercules, which she did. Then Hercules was brought to Olympus in Athena's chariot by Zeus' request.

This Greek mortal Hercules is undoubtedly the greatest hero of Greek Mythology. Hercules is still considered to be the perfect mythical character.

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Randy currently has a website dealing with Reviews of Coffee Related Products such as coffee makers, espresso makers, coffee, k-cups, and more plus articles on coffee enemas and other coffee and health related topics. He also has a website of Reviews of Small Appliances such as ice cream makers, vacuum cleaners, mixers, irons, toasters, food processors, and many other appliances.