Myrrha

"Myrrh." Another name of Smyrna, the daughter of Cinyras, the king of Cyprus. She did not honor Aphrodite and because of Aphrodite's wrath she developed a lust for her father. With the help of her nurse she slept with him for twelve subsequent nights without his knowledge, but when he became aware of her identity he drew his sword and pursued her. Smyrna fled, but being overtaken she prayed to the gods to become invisible. The gods took pity on her and transformed her into a myrtle tree (myrrhina) or a myrrh bush (smyrna) — plants held sacred to Aphrodite. Ten months later the tree split open and Adonis was born.

Lycophron¹ calls Byblos in Phoenicia Μύρρας ἄστυ, "Myrrha's town."

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