[4], Polybius identifies the land of the lotus-eaters as the island of Djerba (ancient Meninx), off the coast of Tunisia. In the tale, a few of the hero Odysseus' men meet the Lotus-Eaters, on their way home from … In Greek mythology, the lotus-eaters (Greek: λωτοφάγοι, translit. Lotus-eater or Lotus Eater Greek Mythology One of a people described in the Odyssey who lived in a drugged, indolent state from feeding on the lotus.... Lotus-eater - definition of lotus-eater … A lazy person devoted to pleasure and luxury. The poem is based on an episode of the hero’s wanderings into the troublesome world. Due to this, the plant the Lotus-Eaters used to create their food is unknown. In Homer’s poem, Odysseus and his crew are given the fruit of the lotus on an island, and this drug-like fruit induces forgetfulness and lethargy in them, causing them to forget that they’re meant to be sailing home after the Trojan War. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lotus-eaters&oldid=1020498622, Legendary tribes in Greco-Roman historiography, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2021, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from September 2013, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2007, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 29 April 2021, at 12:05. The lotus eaters received their name because of their weird practice of eating a mysterious plant that supposedly looked like lotus flowers. Had Odysseus also eaten of the lotus plant, he would probably not have the will power to leave the island and continue his journey with his men. Those who fell under its influence felt apathetic, relaxed and completely unaware of the passing of time. The beauty of this flower inspires artworks, poems, architecture, and design in Chinese culture. lotus-eater definition: 1. someone who has a very comfortable, lazy life and does not worry about anything 2. someone who…. They are a reference to the lotus and its apathy-inducing effect. In Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Lotus-Eaters do not live in the Mediterranean, but in Las Vegas. While the episode of the Lotus Eaters in the Odyssey is often taken as a warning against overindulgence and preoccupation with leisure or pleasure, it is likely a more targeted warning. The lotus flower also bears symbolism in Chinese culture. A tribe of Libya which dwelt west of the Macae. Keeping this in view, what is the main idea of the lotus eaters? These Lotos-eaters come bearing the flower and fruit of the lotos, which they offer to Odysseus’s mariners. Odysseus first came to the Land of the Lotus Eaters after his ship accidentally sailed near the island. With its daily process of life, death, and reemergence, its no wonder that the lotus holds such symbolism. The Lotus Eaters represent one of the challenges that Odysseus had to face on his way home – slothfulness. Since the flower blossoms when the sun rises and closes when the sun goes down, rebirth and the sun are naturally connected to it. lotus eater (pl. They say too much of a good thing can actually be bad, but sometimes it's hard to resist the urge of wanting more. Odysseus and his men had lived on … The Lotus Eaters: A Novel Setting & Symbolism Tatjana Soli This Study Guide consists of approximately 35 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Lotus Eaters. The Lotus-Eaters they make their one and only appearance in Greek mythology, within the poet Homer's famous epic poem, The Odyssey (the sequel to The Iliad). lōtophágoi) were a race of people living on an island dominated by the lotus tree, a plant whose botanical identity (if based on a real plant at all) is uncertain. Lotus-Eater, Greek plural Lotophagoi, Latin plural Lotophagi, in Greek mythology, one of a tribe encountered by the Greek hero Odysseus during his return from Troy, after a north wind had driven him and his men from Cape Malea (Homer, Odyssey, Book IX). Lotus-eater definition is - any of a people in Homer's Odyssey subsisting on the lotus and living in the dreamy indolence it induces. The tribe invited the men to eat with them and enjoy the food. Celtic Shield Knot – History and Symbolism, Endless Knot – Meaning, Symbolism and History. Learn more. Although the Lotus-Eaters are not a prominent figure in Greek mythology, they were the first problem Odysseus had to face to return home. The lotus caused people to forget their loved ones, disregard time, and in most cases never return home. "The Lotos-Eaters" is a poem by Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson, published in Tennyson's 1832 poetry collection. They presented the complications of becoming addicted to drugs and the importance of staying focused on one’s goal. In the Odyssey Book IX, Odysseus tells how adverse north winds blew him and his men off course as they were rounding Cape Malea, the southernmost tip of the Peloponnesus, headed westwards for Ithaca: I was driven thence by foul winds for a space of 9 days upon the sea, but on the tenth day we reached the land of the Lotus-eaters, who live on a food that comes from a kind of flower. In A.D. Godley's translation "mastich-berry". After they ate the lotus they would forget their home and loved ones, and only long to stay with their fellow lotus-eaters. Because of these meanings, the lotus is often seen alongside divine figures in … Could you do without your morning coffee or that social media app on your phone? Mary McMahon Date: February 11, 2021 The roots of the lotus are edible.. A lotus is a type of aquatic plant in the water lily family. Those who eat the lotos feel as if they have fallen into a deep sleep; they sit down upon the yellow sand of the island and can hardly perceive their fellow mariners speaking to them, hearing only the music of their heartbeat in their ears. a lazy person who lives a laid back, peaceful, and decadent lifestyle. although I dont believe this song has anything to do with the book Itry is referring to, it has the same idea. It is known by the name of Seshen in Egypt. The story can also be seen as a warning of giving into addictive behavior. Characters in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief forget their mission after eating lotus flowers. Menorah – What Is Its Symbolic Meaning? There is no consensus as to what exactly the plant is as described by Homer in the Odyssey. The lotus fruits and flowers were the primary food of the island and were a narcotic, causing the inhabitants to sleep in peaceful apathy. After they ate the lotus they would forget their home and loved ones, and only long to stay with their fellow lotus-eaters. The result was Land of the Lotus Eaters… This depiction is used to parody the techniques of the casinos to keep people playing for a longer time. In Greek mythology, the lotus-eaters (Greek: λωτοφάγοι, translit. Figuratively, 'lotus-eater' denotes "a person who spends their time indulging in pleasure and luxury rather than dealing with practical concerns". The people who live on that island give Odysseus' men lotus to eat. Everyone has something that makes them want to leave reality for a bit and just consume. The land of the lotus-eaters is known only from a few classical fragments, but it has thrown a long shadow over modernity. (noun) lotus-eater meaning: 1. someone who has a very comfortable, lazy life and does not worry about anything 2. someone who…. Maybe you have the travel bug or you love to bar hop. The land of the Lotus-Eaters symbolizes 'escapism'. They run a casino in which they give people their drugs forcing them to stay inside forever and enjoy the delights of gambling. Lotus-eater definition, a member of a people whom Odysseus found existing in a state of languorous forgetfulness induced by their eating of the fruit of the legendary lotus… Shopping? The Lotus plant relieves and takes you out of reality. These were a group of people who had forgotten their purpose in life and who gave in to the peaceful apathy that came with eating the lotus. Many of the themes of the Lotus Eaters in the Odyssey tie in with major themes of the epic poem such as hospitality or curiosity. Jerusalem Cross – History and Symbolism, Púca (Pooka) – The Mysterious Celtic Horse-Goblins, Popular Alchemy Symbols and Their Meanings, Popular Mayan Symbols and What They Symbolize. Later sources have referred to this island as being near Libya. The Lotus-Eater is a creature with origins in Greek mythology, legend and folklore. [7], Possibly the best-known reference is the poem The Lotos-Eaters by Alfred, Lord Tennyson[8] Numerous other books and short stories have been titled "Lotus Eaters" or included a reference in the title. While the Lotus Eaters are usually said to eat the lotus tree’s fruits, some translations specify that the fruit came from a flower. The poet found inspiration from Homer’s Odyssey and wrote this poem. These were a group of people who had forgotten their purpose in life and who gave in to the peaceful apathy that came with eating the lotus. Here we landed to take in fresh water, and our crews got their mid-day meal on the shore near the ships. Food? [citation needed]. To the Egyptians, the blue Lotus is especially sacred. Some of the proposed species, based in part on Herodotus' assertion, include: It is the last of these, or another member of the genus Ziziphus, that is traditionally taken to be the plant meant in the Odyssey. Exercise? This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Because the Greek word lôtos can refer to several different plants, there is some ambiguity as to which "lotus" appears in the Odyssey. They just want to … It was inspired by his trip to Spain with his close friend Arthur Hallam, where they visited the Pyrenees mountains. Is there anything in your life you can never get enough of? His first stop was at the island of the Lotus-Eaters, or Lotophages, which makes this strange tribe part of a notable myth. [3] The lotus-eaters even succeed in obtaining from it a sort of wine. Those who ate the plant never cared to report… General Comment in greek mythology the lotus flower, when consumed, caused a person to forget about their woes and to leave their lives behind. With some of his sailors who were not under the influence of the lotus food, he dragged the drugged men back to the ships. Those who ate the plant never cared to report, nor return. (figuratively) Someone with an easy life who does not worry about much. [citation needed]. The island teemed with lotus trees, and its seeds from which these people made their food and drink were addictive drugs. According to the Egyptians, the Lotus flower is a symbol of rebirth and the sun. lotus eaters) One of the Lotophagi (see Λωτοφάγος). Lotus flower, also known as the sacred lotus, Indian lotus, or Nile rose, is the common name for an aquatic plant called Nelumbo nucifera, which is The lotus eaters are a representation of Sloth. The lotus fruit is about the size of the lentisk berry and in sweetness resembles the date. The story is most familiar from the brief passage in Book IX of Homer’s Odyssey, in which after nine days of storms Odysseus finds himself beached on an unknown island. The term Lotus-eater comes from Greek mythology, in which Lotus-eaters were a race of people inhabiting an island where their main food source was lotus plants. In “The Tyrant”, an episode of the English science fiction comic The Trigan Empire, characters are given zotus flowers as food. Naturally, it is from a land highly populated by the honey-sweet Lotus. Here’s a closer look at their story. ‘The Lotos-eaters’ by Alfred Lord Tennyson is a famous poem of the Victorian period. The Lotus Eaters themselves have no direction, making one wonder who they really were and what sort of lives they led before they fell under the influence of the lotus. lōtophágoi) were a race of people living on an island dominated by the lotus tree, a plant whose botanical identity (if based on a real plant at all) is uncertain. In some accounts, the plant might have been the poppy since its seeds can be used to produce drugs. What does lotus-eater mean? The plant traditionally believed to be the one described in the myth is the Ziziphus lotus. The poem describes a group of mariners who, upon eating the lotos, are put into an altered state and isolated from the outside world. The Lotus Eaters were located on Northern Africa. They started at once, and went about among the Lotus-eaters, who did them no hurt, but gave them to eat of the lotus, which was so delicious that those who ate of it left off caring about home, and did not even want to go back and say what had happened to them, but were for staying and munching lotus with the Lotus-eaters without thinking further of their return; nevertheless, though they wept bitterly I forced them back to the ships and made them fast under the benches. No … Symbolism of the Lotus Eaters. In the end Odysseus has gained the humility he needed to return home to Ithaca, and Telemachus has gained knowledge, maturity and growth and most importantly Pride along his Journey. The Lotus-Eaters were a race of people who dwelt on an island in the Mediterranean Sea. Then I told the rest to go on board at once, lest any of them should taste of the lotus and leave off wanting to get home, so they took their places and smote the grey sea with their oars.[1]. In Ancient Greek, the word Lotos stands for several types of plants. Lotus … It is one of a race of people with origins on an unnamed island near North Africa (possibly near Djerba). The Lotus Eaters also remind us of the dangers of forgetting who we are and what we have set out to do.