Disney Heracles AU: Myrrha
Other names: Myrie (from her older sisters), Princess Myrrha
Occupations: Princess of Cyprus, Priestess of Aphrodite’s Temple (formerly), Myrrh tree
Residence: Capital Paphos of Cyprus
Parents: King Cinyras (father), Cencheris (mother), Metharme (stepmother)
Siblings: Braesia (oldest sister), Laogora (older sister), Orsedice (older sister), Laodice (older sister)
Children: Adonis (biological son)
Other relatives: Teucer (brother-in-law)
Friends: Her ladies-in-waiting, her nurse
Power & Abilities: Extreme beauty and charm, authority of royal princess and priestess, weaving/embroidery, singing
Likes: Flowers, embroidering for her sisters and parents, her father Cinyras, safety of her son Adonis, Aphrodite’s wrath
Dislikes: Disappointing her father, upsetting Aphrodite, her mother Cencheris’ hubris, her son exposed to danger and harm
Myrrha was the beautiful princess of Cyprus and the youngest daughter of King Cinyras. She takes full responsibility for her authority as priestess of Aphrodite’s temple, caring for the little ones who are raised there as well. She was often labeled as an incarnation of the goddess herself and was praised for it by her people. However, her vain mother Cencheris wanted her daughter to be called more than that and boasted that her daughter is more beautiful than Aphrodite herself, which that act was considered a great offense to the deity of love and beauty. Furious, Aphrodite decided to punish Cencheris by ordering her son Eros to make Myrrha fall in love with her own father Cinyras.
Eros obeyed his mother’s command, although a bit hesitant, and shot the golden arrow of love at Myrrha’s heart when she was with her father. Tormented by such forbidden passion, Myrrha considered ending her own life until she was stopped by her nurse. Eventually, she was told to be in a disguise as a mysterious dancer as her nurse led her to King Cinyras’ bed chamber at the night when his wives left for the kingdom’s festival they had to attend. Weeks went by, the youngest princess felt the symptoms of pregnancy. Not wanting to dishonor her family and her people, Myrrha ran away from the palace, devastating her parents and her sisters. Isolated in the woods for months, she gave birth of her son Adonis. Weakened, Myrrha knew she was dying and begged to be turned into a tree to keep her son safe from the beasts. Out of sympathy, Demeter turned her into the myrrh tree and sent the nymphs to fetch the baby boy. The nymphs were empathetic of the tragic birth caused by Aphrodite’s curse, so instead of taking him to the said goddess, they went to the underworld so Hades and Persephone would raise him as their own.
Myrrha has been mentioned a couple of times thoroughly from King Cinyras and his family, even though Aphrodite has seemed to forget about the royal priestess she had cursed, failed to see the resemblance between Myrrha and Adonis. However, the said youth discovered the truth of his birth at one point and was led to the myrrh tree by the nymphs who found them years ago. Demeter comforted her mortal adoptive grandson, saying that his biological mother loved him dearly and wished for his safety. From Demeter and Persephone’s view of the myrrh tree, what they only saw was Myrrha crying over her son’s circumstances; being desired by the same goddess who condemned them, being targeted by Aphrodite’s jealous paramour-to-husband Ares. Later, Heracles has heard of the truth of his friend’s birth. Feeling immense sympathy for the tragic mother and son when visiting Cyprus, Heracles found the said myrrh tree and sat across her, starting to tell about Adonis’ life in Prometheus Hero Academia and the adventures they shared. The demigod then promised to bring Adonis and his family along, so the family can enjoy the time together, the myrrh tree’s branches swayed slightly with delightful and grateful manner.
