Plate with Crocus

Ceramic plate with Crocus.

According to Greek mythology, Crocus was a young man transformed into the saffron plant by the god Hermes, who accidentally killed him during a discus throw. Three drops of Crocus’s blood became the three red spots at the center of the crocus flower.

A symbol of earth’s fertility and seasonal cycles, saffron was valued as an herb, aphrodisiac, poison, and hallucinogen, with strong ties to ancient Cycladic sanctuaries, goddesses, and worshipers. Revered for its medicinal properties, crocus remains one of Greece’s most iconic aromatic and medicinal plants.

Exhibition: Kykladitisses: Untold stories of women in the Cyclades