The Greek mythological figure Karpos (or Carpus, literally "fruit"), was a youth renowned for his beauty. He is the son of Zephyros (the west wind) and Khloris (spring, or new vegetation), forming a natural metaphor — the west wind heralds the new growth of spring, which then bears fruit. Carpo (or Xarpo), one of the Horae, is in some ways the feminine equivalent of Karpos; her dominion was autumn, ripening, and harvesting.

Karpos and Kalamos

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In stories such as Nonnus's Dionysiaca, Karpos is the lover of Kalamos. While swimming together in the Maeander River, Karpos accidentally drowned. In his grief, Kalamos changed into a reed, which was to forever sound a song of lamentations as it rustled in the wind.

Etymology

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The word Karpos derives from the Proto-Indo-European language root "kerp-" or "karp-" meaning "to gather", "to pluck" or "to harvest". Cognates can be found in many Indo-European languages including modern English in words such as "harvest" (via Germanic), "carpet", "excerpt" and "scarce" (via Latin). Coming to English directly from the Greek "karpos" are the following:

• the prefix "carpo-" — meaning fruit. eg. carpophagous, "fruit-eating"
• the suffixes "-carp" and "-carpous" — also meaning fruit. eg. ascocarp, pericarp
• Carpel — the female reproductive organ of a flower
• Carpology - the study of fruits and seeds
• Carp — a fruiting body of a fungus

Greek mythological people

Carpos