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Myrrha
(212 words)

[German version]

(Μύρρα; Mýrrha). Daughter of the Cyprian king Cinyras and Cenchreis or of the Assyrian king Theias. The gods' anger causes her to fall in love with her father. She is able to have sexual intercourse with him without being recognized, and becomes pregnant. When he recognizes her he tries to kill her; Zeus or Aphrodite takes pity on her and transforms her into a tree; her tears are the resin of the myrrh tree. Later Adonis is born from that tree (Apollod. 3,183f. = Panyassis fr. 27 Bernabé; Antoninus Liberalis 34; Hyg. Fab. 58). In Hyg. Fab. 242 Cinyras ki…

Cite this page
Harder, Ruth Elisabeth (Zürich), “Myrrha”, in: Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry. Consulted online on 27 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e814500>
First published online: 2006
First print edition: 9789004122598, 20110510



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