Hellebore folklore

In Greek mythology, Melampus of Pylos used helleborus to save the daughters of the king of Argos from a madness that caused them to run naked through the city, crying, weeping and screaming.

In Thebes, Heracles married King Creon’s daughter, Megara. In a fit of induced madness, Heracles killed his children by Megara. A tincture of helleborus was used to cure his madness.

In witchcraft, helleborus is believed to have ties to summoning demons.