Sign in Subscribe

Tulips

Tulipmania was not irrational.

Tulipmania was not irrational.

In February 1637, the Dutch futures market had a reset on all outstanding contracts for tulips. The prices had reportedly been growing an unprecedented rate, and there was risk of systemic collapse of defaulted contracts.

King Midas - The Tulip's Forgotten Namesake

King Midas - The Tulip's Forgotten Namesake

King Midas voted for Pan, and Apollo became so enraged, he turned Midas' ears into donkeys' ears. Midas was embarrassed and tried to hide up the ears by wearing some sort of head covering, which likely resembled the tulip in a closed state.

Panic! in the Garden

Panic! in the Garden

This month on Colorphilia, each week, we will be focusing on a different aspect of tulips. This week, I share the likely original meaning of the flower, and how the etymology became so tortured, convoluted, and misunderstood.