St. Michael's Victory Over
Lucifer Bronze
by Jacob Epstein
•
Coventry Cathedral •
Starwort: Michaelmas
Daisy
As fall arrives in the northeast, so do the
asters and goldenrod in the fields. Although native to our area, many forms of
these plants also are native to other parts of the world and are recorded in
myths passed down over the centuries. In Latin aster means star, the name also
used by the Greeks for this flower. The "star-flower" was believed
sacred to the gods and so wreaths of asters were placed on their altars.
Aster leaves were burned to frighten away serpents in medieval Europe and roots
were crushed and fed to bees in poor health. Although the early English name was
"starwort," later the flower was named "Michaelmas Daisy" as
it blooms around St. Michaelmas Day in September.
As fall arrives in the northeast, so do the
asters and goldenrod in the fields. Although native to our area, many forms of
these plants also are native to other parts of the world and are recorded in
myths passed down over the centuries. In Latin aster means star, the name also
used by the Greeks for this flower. The "star-flower" was believed
sacred to the gods and so wreaths of asters were placed on their altars.