Cornel

Cornus mas

The wood of C. mas is extremely dense, and unlike the wood of most other woody plant species, sinks in water. This density makes it valuable for crafting into tool handles, parts for machines, etc. Cornus mas was used from the seventh century BC onward by Greek craftsman to construct spears, javelins and bows, the craftsmen considering it far superior to any other wood. The wood's association with weaponry was so well known that the Greek name for it was used as a synonym for "spear" in poetry during the fourth and third centuries BC.

A legend from the Trojan war tells of the Thracian Emperor who had Polydoros, the youngest son of the King of Troja, killed by spears made of the Cornel's wood. The shafts of the spears however began to sprout anew from the young men's spilled blood. "In the place of Polydoros' death grew a Cornel Cherry. When Aeneas escaped the Trojan massacre he landed on the Thracian coast. In search for firewood for making a sacrifice for the gods he and his troups found bushes of Cornel cherries; but when they began to cut them human blood came spilling from the branches, upon which the voice of Polydoros' ghost was to be heard."

Alexander The Great was victorious against the Persians when introducing the Phalanges, who carried up to 6 meter long lances (sarissa) made of the Cornel's wood.

Ovid uses the word for Cornel several times as a synonym for spear, and one line indicates that the lance-points were not of iron but the 'blank cornel would pierce the face' of the victim.

In Homer's Odysse cornel cherries are given as food to the pigs, into which Circe turned the men of Odysseus.

A dogwood that was believed to have sprung from the shaft of the javelin that Romulus threw from the slopes of the Aventine Hill, stood on the Palatine Hill in Rome until it was accidentally destroyed by Gajus Caesar. From what Plutarch says, it appears that this tree was one of the talismans of the city, whose safety was reckoned to be bound up in the tree (Brand).

Romulus used his lance (made of the Cornel's wood) to mark the borders of the new-found city of Rome. The lance sprouted anew as a sign for the successful founding of the City of Rome.

According to some Romulus transformed into the deity Quirinus, who is also associtaed with Janus. Quiris means "spear". "The flamen of Portunus performed the ritual greasing of the spear of the god Quirinus on August 17, day of the Portunalia and on the same date had been consecrated the temple of Janus".

According to Phrygian myth the bark of Cornus mas has a symbolical relation with the ‘Gordian Knot’.

The epithet "cornelian" is taken from the semiprecious gemstone, sometimes spelled Carnelian, since the fruits are similar in color.

Ripe Cornel 'Cherries'

Sources:
Wikipedia English, Wikipedia German

Fotos © Teufelskunst