Minthe

Minthe
Chthonic Naiad nymph
Close-up of mint leaves
GreekΜίνθη
AbodeUnderworld
SymbolsMint
Genealogy
Parents
ConsortHades

In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, Minthe (also spelled Menthe, Mintha or Mentha; Ancient Greek: Μίνθη or Μένθη or Μίντη) is an Underworld Naiad associated with the river Cocytus. She was beloved by Hades, the King of the Underworld, and became his mistress. But she was transformed into a mint plant by either his wife Persephone or her mother Demeter.[1][2] The plant was also called by some as hedyosmos (Ancient Greek: ἡδύοσμος), which means "sweet-smelling".[3]

  1. ^ Smith, s.v. Mintha
  2. ^ Wright, Rosemary M. "A Dictionary of Classical Mythology: Summary of Transformations". mythandreligion.upatras.gr. University of Patras. Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  3. ^ Strabo, Geographica 8.3