Rechen Pfennig - Vulcan, Cyparissus ND

Reverse

Cyparissus, turning into a cypress, with bow in hand, deer killed by his arrow in front.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
CIPARISSVS
HK

Engraver: Hans Krauwinkel II

Edge

Plain

Comment

Cyparissus was a lover of Apollo's who had a beloved tame pet stag; after accidentally shooting the stag.
Cyparissus begged Apollo to let his tears fall eternally, and so was turned into a cypress tree - the sap of which appears like tears.

 In Greek mythology Cyparissus was a beautiful young lover of the god Apollo, from whom he was given a majestic and meek deer that soon became his best friend. The beloved companion on his long walks had his imposing horns adorned with gold jewels and flower garlands and let himself be ridden like a horse. On a hot summer day, the great and beloved deer sought refreshment under the trees surrounding a grassy clearing. It so happened that the young Cyparissus had gone right there to train in throwing the javelin and, not seeing the sleeping deer, with an incredible and unfortunate throw he killed him. Once he realized the fatal mistake, the boy fell into atrocious despair and could not console himself even with the attentions of the god Apollo, she cried bitterly without being able to stop and decided to let herself go because of the great sense of guilt. But before he died, he asked as a last plea to "be able to be in eternal mourning." The gods of Olympus were pitied by the dying young man and together with Apollo they transformed the remains of Cyparissus into a solemn tree that soared upwards with an unmistakable pyramid shape. Then it was decided that he would be mourned by all the gods and that he himself would mourn the others, always being close to those who would suffer.

 From this myth derives the ancient custom of adorning sacred places and cemeteries with cypresses to evoke the past and the memory of the beloved deceased. Another reason why the cypress is linked to the cult of the dead and represents the plant image of immortality lies in the fact that in addition to the tragic "Myth of Cyparissus", it took on the important therapeutic action of comforting the great pain due to the loss of loved ones, thanks also to its particular resin whose drops are very similar to the tears shed by ordinary mortals.

 A better condition example: