FLORA of Mounikhion (April - May)

Ivy Polyxène

The goddess Demeter, like Artemis and Hestia, surrounds herself only with women. The women surrounding Demeter and Persephone are known as nymphs. Demeter asked Hephaestus to craft sacred armor for them to wear when venturing out or defending her domain; however, as men looked unfavorably upon female warriors, the god of the forge cast an illusion spell on the suits of armor, making the nymphs appear as men.

When the mask is shattered, the illusion is too; in this instance, the very cosmos the nymph used to conceal her essence can be harnessed by her in a final act of sacrifice. Fallen nymphs are welcomed by Persephone to the Elysian Fields—Elysion—where they no longer need to hide their true identities.

Diagram of Demeter's Flora