Literally, asphodel means "that does not falter, that endures". The bulb of this flower, protected by the ground, resists extreme situations and also blossoms on land burned by fires. It is a plant with a simple but robust appearance and rich in nutrients. Crowns of asphodel were offered to divinities linked to the depths of the earth and in ancient Greece the flower was planted in burial places to guarantee, with its nutrient-rich root, sustenance for the deceased on their journey to the afterlife. Despite its relationship with the subsoil it is therefore not a symbol of death, but on the contrary of rebirth; when it emerges from the ground, spring has arrived, unstoppable and immaculate. Asphodel is a bit like our island: simple but strong, proud and resistant, with a clean but overwhelming beauty. Like Kefalonia it clings to the barren earth with deep roots but at the same time it rises proud and bright towards the sky, ready to be admired by those who love simple and true things just like Kefalonia.
THE ISLAND OF ASPHODELS
Is Kefalonia still an "authentic" island? If by authentic we mean faithful to its identity despite the passage of time then it is, without a shadow of a doubt. Is that always an advantage? Sometimes not, as being true to yourself coincides with seeming closed to change, clinging to a simplicity of other times, much more planted on one's own land made of stones rather than gazing at the blue horizon. What does all this have to do with a spring flower? Much more than it may seem.
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