Manousakia Flowers - What they Are and Where they took their Name from
I know that it is officially Winter time when I smell their wonderful scent, their fresh aroma.
They are called Manousakia here, in Crete and I just love seeing them popping out, in the green fields.
Unfortunately there is not enough free time for me to go to the fields. Luckily today I saw some flowers in a vase, in a store I went shopping. The shop owners were kind enough to give me a few manousakia, so I took them home and took some shots & inspiration ..
Do they exist in your country? How do you call them?
Do you know how Narcissus flowers took their name?
The exact origin of the name Narcissus is unknown, but it is often linked to a Greek word for intoxicated (narcotic) and the myth of the youth of that name who fell in love with his own reflection. The English word "daffodil" appears to be derived from "asphodel", with which it was commonly compared.
The genus Narcissus was well known to the ancients. In Greek literature Theophrastus and Dioscorides described νάρκισσος, probably referring to N. poeticus, although the exact species mentioned in classical literature cannot be accurately established. Pliny the Elder later introduced the Latin form narcissus.1
How many species are there?
Apparently there are approximately 40 different species and 6 of them are well known in Greece!
As per wikipedia it was recently discovered that a certain substance called galantamine can be derived from this flower and can be used to moderate memory diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
Apparently Galantamine (which was first extracted from G. Woronowii in 1952) can penetrate the blood-brain barrier, reducing the disolvement of a substance called acetylcoline located in our brain. This improves cognitive ability in people with Alzheimer's disease
Please read here more information
Yes, but why do the locals call these Manousakia?
It is not perfectly clear why they are widely known as Manousakia. The male name Manousos is widely used in Crete and comes from the Venetian name Manuzio (or Latin Manutius)
It is said that some of the men named Manolis where called in short Manios or in some places Manousos.
This is connected with the Christ, whose name was Emmanouil and it is said that they would small so wonderfully because when the Virgin Mary would wash the clothes of Jesus, she would lie them on the "manouses" (μανουσές) to dry.
Sources and More info:
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/flora/daffodils
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_tazetta
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_(plant)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_(mythology) (If you wish to know more about ancient Greek Narkissos)
https://www.zarpanews.gr/%CE%BF-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%8D%CF%83%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%B9-%CF%84%CE%B1-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%83%CE%AC%CE%BA%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%80%CF%8E%CF%82-%CF%83%CF%85%CE%BD%CE%B4%CE%AD/
I hope the above were not too boring! Let me know in the comments!
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