Nepenthe/nɪˈpɛnθi/ (Ancient Greek:νηπενθές,nēpenthés) is a possibly fictional medicine forsorrow – a "drug of forgetfulness" mentioned in ancientGreek literature andGreek mythology, depicted as originating inEgypt.[1]
Thecarnivorous plantgenusNepenthes is named after the drug nepenthe.
The wordnepenthe first appears in the fourth book ofHomer'sOdyssey:
ἔνθ᾽ αὖτ᾽ ἄλλ᾽ ἐνόησ᾽ Ἑλένη Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα:
αὐτίκ᾽ ἄρ᾽ εἰς οἶνον βάλε φάρμακον, ἔνθεν ἔπινον,
νηπενθές τ᾽ ἄχολόν τε, κακῶν ἐπίληθον ἁπάντων.
Figuratively, nepenthe means "that which chases away sorrow". Literally it means 'not-sorrow' or 'anti-sorrow':νη-,nē-, i.e. "not" (privativeprefix),[3] andπενθές, fromπένθος,pénthos, i.e. "grief, sorrow, or mourning".[4]
In theOdyssey, νηπενθές φάρμακον :nēpenthés phármakon (i.e. ananti-sorrow drug) is a magicalpotion given toHelen byPolydamna, the wife of the noble Egyptian Thon; it quells all sorrows with forgetfulness.
.jpg) | This article relating toGreek mythology is astub. You can help Wikipedia byadding missing information. |