The Heart of Sylphium

The oddly-shaped seed pods of the sylphium plant spawned a myth about its origins and its use in Ellenik society.

Summary

In the Ellenik tradition, the god(dess) of love, Sylphia was cast out of the heavenly realm of Ourania for falling in love with the first mortal created. Sylphia- or Sylphio depending upon who is telling the story- wanted nothing more than to experience the pleasures of mortal flesh, but was deemed immoral by Patros and Matros, the father and mother of all Ellenik gods. Sylphia/o was cast out of Ourania, and when s/he came crashing to the ground, s/he was killed.
The story goes that Sylphia/o's body sunk into the earth, and nurtured various forms of life, but most iconically, the Sylphium plant: the plant was thought to be germinated from the heart of the fallen god(dess), and anyone who consumes the plant's seeds or fruit experiences a rush of blood to the head and nether regions, symbolic of Sylphia/o's deep and undying love for the human race.

Historical Basis

The seeds and fruit of the Sylphium plant, especially when consumed raw, do cause certain physical sensations that many deem pleasurable: from improved circulation, reduced inflammation and stiffness of the muscles, and stimulation of the mind similar to a cup of strong tea or coffee. For this reason it is often brewed into tea or as part of a stew or sauce, and given to people who are recovering from injury or sickness, or to the elderly and infirm. This use of the plant is much more socially acceptable, and referred to colloquially as "Sylphia/o's Embrace."
A fermentated beverage derived from Sylphium seeds and fruit known as "Sylphia/o's Blood," also exists, and has a reputation as a sort of "love potion" in Ellenik society: being combined with alcohol, the plant's natural effects are enhanced, and the speed at which it is absorbed into the bloodstream increased. However, its use is severely frowned upon, as common perception holds that anyone using this tincture is doing so maliciously- spiking someone's drink or meal to make them have sex with you because you are unable to woo them or otherwise gain their consent. There is room for its recreational use by couples who wish to experiment with such things, but this is rare and also seen as somewhat sexually deviant behavior.

Spread

Anecdotally, when lovers run off into a meadow or a shady grove to express their desires in peace, they do often run into patches of sylphium: it is a hardy and broadly-propagated plant, so it is rather common in the wild. Many a young person has tasted the seeds or fruit of the plant out of curiosity, and found themselves seized by a sudden and undeniable desire for physical intimacy.

Variations & Mutation

While most people agree that in the first telling of the myth, Sylphia was a goddess, who fell for Andros, the first human man, this has changed over time. This is thanks in large part thanks to the works of Ellenia's two most famous erotic poets, Lotharos and Mytilena.
Heralded as two of the most important contributors to the broader social conception of eroticism, Mytilena and Lotharos preferred to have romantic relationships with members of their own respective sex, and each added another layer of complexity and social commentary to the myth: Lotharos changed Sylphia's sex to male, but retained the character of Anthros, the first man in the Ellenik tradition; Conversely, Mytilena kept the original feminine descriptions of Sylphia, changing the object of her affection to Gynos, the first human woman.
Lotharos and Mytelina were both born on the Ellenik island of Agápi, and were childhood friends. They married when they came of age, but many modern scholars of Ellenik literature have concluded that their marriage was one of convenience, given the homoerotic nature of their respective poetry.

Date of Setting

Before recorded history