![]() ![]() Most of them are wishful thinking or just gimmicks, but the term ‘nectar’ was adopted quite appropriately in one case: to label the mixture of sugars and water that can be secreted by any vegetative part of a flowering plant, but mostly by flowers.įloral nectar contains 15% to 75% (by weight) of sugars, mostly glucose, fructose and sucrose. The magical diet of the Olympians made such an impression on Western culture that many food and drink products have ‘ambrosia’ or ‘nectar’ attached to their names. Tantalus’ punishment for stealing ambrosia and nectar © Jacques Favereau, 1655 Next time you find yourself ‘tantalisingly close’ to something but not getting it, spare a thought for poor Tantalus, going hungry and thirsty for eternity. Every time Tantalus tried to pick up a fruit, the branches would grow out of his reach, and when he wanted to drink, the water would recede away. The gods didn’t take the betrayal lightly: they shipped Tantalus to the Underworld and made him stand in a pool of water under the branches of a fruit tree. ![]() ![]() Tantalus stole their food (ambrosia) and drink (nectar) intending to give the loot to his people to make them immortal and privy to divine secrets. When the Greek gods invited Zeus’ son Tantalus for a feast at Olympus, they couldn’t have imagined their guest had sticky fingers. ![]()
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