Myrtum

Myrtus (By Leighton)

A myrtus is the conveniently spelled myrtle tree and its bear a fruit called myrtum in Latin. Though the berries can be used to cook delicious pork dishes, in both the Ecologues and the Georgics, Virgil is interested in the relation of the myrtle to Venus (in the restricted sense of the god and general sense of erotics) and, through this, Augustus. For example, the opening book fo the Georgics imagines Augustus wearing a wreath wherein laurels have been substituted out for myrtle (Georgics, I.28). Thus, given Virgil’s less than optimistic assumptions about love, this relating of the myrtle to Augustus should perhaps be taken as critical.

Declension and Etymology

As would be expected with the y, myrtle is indeed derived from the Greek term μύρτος. This Greek term μύρτος' is generated from a Semitic base meaning bitter which can be seen in the Hebrew term מֹר (mor; bitterness) and the Arabic مُرّ‎ (murr; bitter) (Wiktionary).

Luckily myrtus is an easy-going second declension noun and declines as follows:

Usages

“Populus Alcidae gratissima, vitis Iaccho, / formosae myrtus Veneri, sua laurea Phoebo [The poplar is most pleasing to Alcida, the vine to Iacchus, / the myrtle to beautiful Venus, his laurel to Phoebus]” (Ecologues, VII.61-62)

“… cingens materna tempora mytro [Encircling your temples with your mother’s myrtle]” (Georgics, I.28)

“… propagine vites / respondent, solido Paphiae de robore myrtus [The vines respond with shoots, Paphian myrtles better from solid wood]” (Georgics, II.63-64)