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Karpos

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In Roman and Greek mythology, Carpus (/ˈkɑːrpɒs/; Ancient Greek: Καρπός, romanizedKarpos, lit.'fruit') is a minor character associated with fertility and springtime. Similarly, Karpo, one of the Horae, is the feminine equivalent of Karpos; her dominion being the fruits of the earth.

Etymology

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The word Karpos derives from the Proto-Indo-European language root *kerp-.[1] Cognates can be found in many Indo-European languages including modern English in words such as "harvest" (via Germanic), "carpet", "excerpt" and "scarce" (via Latin).

Mythology

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According to Servius, Carpus was the son of Zephyrus, the god of the west wind,[2] by the nymph Hora (season goddess).[3][4] Carpus fell in love with another youth, Calamus, the son of a river-god, Meander. According to Nonnus, while the two were competing in a swimming contest, the wind drove a wave into Carpus' face and he drowned.[5] In his grief, Calamus allowed himself to also drown. He was then transformed into a water reed, whose rustling in the wind was interpreted as a sigh of lamentation, while Carpus became 'the fruit of the earth' (possibly a potato).[6][7] Servius writes that Calamus blamed his father for Carpus's death, so he ran away and prayed to Zeus, who responded by transforming both of them.[4] When rustled in the wind, those reeds would always give out a sound of lamentation.[8]

It has been suggested that Carpus is actually supposed to be the son of Flora/Chloris, the flower goddess that Zephyrus abducted and made his wife, instead of some Hora.[9]

In more recent times, some scholars misread the words of Servius and Nonnus, thus a misinerpretation arose about the story of drowning with Calamus rather being about Carpo, the Season goddess, instead of the male youth Carpus.[10][11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Beekes 2009, p. 149.
  2. ^ Rausch, Sven (2006). Cancik, Hubert; Schneider, Helmuth (eds.). "Zephyrus". referenceworks-brillonline-com/subjects. Translated by Christine F. Salazar. Hamburg. doi:10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e12216400. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  3. ^ Frey, Alexandra; Folkerts, Menso (2006). Cancik, Hubert; Schneider, Helmuth (eds.). "Carpus". referenceworks-brillonline-com/subjects. Translated by Christine F. Salazar. Hamburg. doi:10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e609540. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Servius On Eclogues 5.48
  5. ^ Rosemary M. Wright. "A Dictionary of Classical Mythology: Summary of Transformations". mythandreligion.upatras.gr. University of Patras. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Nonnus, Dionysiaca 11.385-481
  7. ^ Forbes Irving 1990, pp. 278–279.
  8. ^ Licht 2000, p. 411.
  9. ^ Guirand & Graves 1987, p. 138.
  10. ^ Guirand & Graves 1987, p. 139.
  11. ^ Lemprière 1826, p. 201.

Bibliography

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  • The dictionary definition of Karpos at Wiktionary