from the Homeric Hymn to #Demeter (trans. Gregory Nagy):
She [ #Persephone ] was having a good time, along with the daughters of Okeanos, who wear their girdles slung low. She was picking flowers: roses, crocus, and beautiful violets. Up and down the soft meadow. Iris blossoms too she picked, and hyacinth. And the #narcissus , which was grown as a lure for the flower-faced girl by #Gaia [Earth]. All according to the plans of Zeus. She [Gaia] was doing a favour for the one who receives many guests [Hades]. It [the narcissus] was a wondrous thing in its splendour. To look at it gives a sense of holy awe to the immortal gods as well as mortal humans. It has a hundred heads growing from the root up. Its sweet fragrance spread over the wide skies up above.
One of the possible flowers that this hymn by #Homer might be referring to is the variety Narcissus jonquilla -- quite poisonous, has numerous blossoms per stem (unlike many other narcissus varieties that would have been growing in the ancient world), and smells the most strong and lovely of all the varieties of narcissus.
#Hellenic #AncientGreece
@Clementulus Honestly, I have been trying to figure that out myself! Closest I was able to find was that it might indicate someone who had passed into maturity, no longer an adolescent but I've not been able to confirm that.
And there is a reference later in the hymn that uses the same phrasing but refers to a much older woman who has older daughters, so 🤷♀️