Karpos
Demigod in Greek mythology
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In Roman and Greek mythology, Carpus (/ˈkɑːrpɒs/; Ancient Greek: Καρπός, romanized: Karpos, lit. 'fruit') is a minor character, son of Zephyrus the west wind-god. Carpus drowned in a river, causing his distressed lover Kalamos to end his life as well.
Etymology
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).
Family
Mythology
Carpus's only myth is related in the Dionysiaca, a fifth-century epic by Nonnus. Carpus fell in love with another youth, Calamus, who was the son of a river-god Meander. However, while the two were competing in a swimming contest, the wind drove a wave into Carpus's 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]
Symbolism
It has been suggested that Carpus is actually supposed to be the son of Chloris/Flora, 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 misinterpretation arose about the story of drowning with Calamus rather being about Carpo, the Season goddess, instead of the male youth Carpus.[10][11]
