Greek Mythology
In Greek mythology, Amaranthus was a hunter of the island of Euboea. He was loved by the goddess Artemis and joined her in the hunt. But he insulted Poseidon as worthless, claiming the bounty of the hunt was superior to that of the sea. For this the god sent a giant wave which washed him into the sea and drowned him. Artemis then turned him into an amaranth-flower, her sacred plant.
As said before, the Amaranth flower represents immortality for the occidental. In the book "Natural History" from Plinio il Vecchio, the author considers the flower as long lasting: they are still alive for a long time after being picked and once they are wilted, they get back to life in contact with water. For this reason, the Greeks use this flower on the graves of dead to helped impart immortality to the soul and God's sanctuaries.
Chinese Mythology
In the Chinese culture, the Amaranth is widely used for healing chemicals and treating illnesses, like infections.
Swiss Mythology
Early peasants appreciated the immortal meaning of the flower by making wreaths of amaranth for hanging over the doors in Ascension Day.
Other
For the pre-Columbian Aztecs, the Amaranth was believed to give them supernatural powers so they incorporated it into their religious ceremonies.
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