Myrina (priestess)
A priestess of Aphrodite transformed into a myrtle shrub.
Myrina—or, in Latinized form, Myrtea—is a minor figure in Greek mythology, a young priestess linked to the myrtle plant and to Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love. Her story appears in the writings of two authors: Maurus Servius Honoratus, a Latin grammarian from the early fifth century AD, and the anonymous second Vatican Mythographer, whose work survives in a manuscript tradition that was not discovered as a single manuscript in 1401—standard scholarship does not support that claim.
The name derives from the ancient Greek word for myrtle, which could be spelled μυρσίνη (myrsínē) or μυρρίνη (myrrhínē), with masculine forms like μύρρινος (mýrrhinos) used for the plant and myrtle wreaths, and the berry called μύρτον (mýrton) or μυρτίς (myrtís). The word likely has Semitic origins, but is unrelated to μύρρα (mýrrha) or σμύρνα (smýrna), meaning myrrh, despite the similarity. Linguist Robert Beekes suggested a pre-Greek origin due to the myrt-/myrs- variation. Servius spelled her name as Myrene. Since the priestess’s story is preserved only in Latin texts, the original Greek spelling of her name is unknown; Greek spellings of “Myrina” include Μύρινα (Múrina) and Μυρίννα (Murínna).
In the myth, Myrina was an exceptionally beautiful maiden kidnapped by robbers and held in a cave while they committed their crimes. She escaped and returned home, crediting the gods for her safety. In gratitude, she devoted herself to Aphrodite and became her priestess. However, her former betrothed came to the temple and took her anyway, so she killed him. She was then transformed into a myrtle shrub. Because she had been so loyal, Aphrodite gave the myrtle a pleasant aroma and made it her sacred plant, explaining the myrtle’s connection to the goddess.
Servius, using the name Myrene, adds a different version. As a priestess, she recognized one of her captors in a crowd and dragged him forward. The man confessed and named his accomplices. A young man who had previously loved her took on the task of hunting down the robbers. When he succeeded, he asked for a reward, and the townspeople allowed him to marry Myrene, despite her priestly vows. But Aphrodite, displeased that her priestess had broken her vows, killed the young man and turned Myrene into myrtle.
- Field
- Greek mythology
- Known for
- Priestess of Aphrodite transformed into a myrtle shrub
- Nationality
- Greek (mythological)
Lore & Background
Myrina was an exceedingly beautiful maiden who was kidnapped by robbers and held in a cave while they committed their robberies, but she managed to escape and return to her home. Since she credited the gods for her safety and freedom, she decided to devote herself to Aphrodite and became her priestess. However, her previous betrothed came to the temple and took her anyway, so she killed him. She was then changed into a myrtle shrub. Because she had been such a loyal priestess, Aphrodite granted pleasant aroma to the myrtle and made it her sacred plant, explaining the myrtle's connection to Aphrodite.
Servius, spelling her name as Myrene, adds a different version: as a priestess, one day she recognized one of her captors among the crowd and dragged him to the middle of the crowd. The man confessed and gave out the names of his associates. A young man, who had previously loved her, took up the task of hunting down the robbers. When he returned successful, he asked for a reward, and the people of the town allowed him to take Myrene to wife, in spite of her being a priestess. But Aphrodite was displeased to see her priestess break her vows, so she killed him and turned Myrene into myrtle.
Reader's Guide
Myrina's story, though attested only in Latin sources from late antiquity, serves as an etiological myth explaining the myrtle's sacred connection to Aphrodite. The myrtle, which grows by the sea and was seen as appropriate for feminine necessities, was one of the most common symbols and sacred plants connected to Aphrodite. 'Myrtia' (meaning 'she of the myrtle') was one of Aphrodite's many cult titles, as was 'Murcia' for her Roman counterpart Venus. In ancient Greece, dreams about myrtle garlands were seen as auspicious for women due to the myrtle's connection to Aphrodite. The plant was also associated with Hymen, another love god sometimes said to be Aphrodite's son, and the Muse Erato. In the myth of Cupid and Psyche, Venus hits Psyche with a myrtle branch, and myrtle was worn by her attendants, the Graces. The two variant accounts of Myrina's fate—one where she kills her betrothed and is rewarded, another where her marriage displeases Aphrodite and leads to transformation—reflect the flexibility of mythological tradition and the moral ambiguity sometimes present in tales of divine punishment and reward.
Did You Know?
- Her name may be more correctly Myrtea, from the ancient Greek word for 'myrtle'.
- The original Greek spelling of her name cannot be determined, as her story is preserved only in Latin scripts.
- The myrtle was also associated with Hymen and the Muse Erato.
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