Greek Myth: Zephyrus and Hyacinthus

Greek Mythology has a healthy collection of stories between mortals and the gods coming together. Many of these stories revolve around a god falling in love with a mortal and relishing being with them. While some tales end with them living happily together, you most likely will read more stories about tragedy befalling the god and their mortal lover. One such myth of tragic love is in the legend of Zephyrus and Hyacinthus. The myth may seem short and not as dramatic as other Greek myths, but it still holds a powerful meaning that people today can learn about. Plus, it sprouts a flower we know today, but we will get to that towards the end of the article. Let us look at the different aspects of the myth and its influence on people today.

Who Was Hyacinthus?

Hyacinthus was a mortal man and divine hero widely associated with Sparta. Who his parents were is unsure; some tales say his parents were Clio, the muse of history, and her lover, Pierus, while others say his father could have been King Oebalus of Sparta or King Amyclus of Sparta. Regardless of his parentage, once Hyacinthus was named a prince of Sparta, his parents became King Amyclas and Diomede.

Hyacinthus was regarded as one of Sparta's most beautiful men. He attracted the attention of many, especially men. The gods were taken by his beauty and wanted to have him as their lover. But before he interacted with the gods, he was in love with another mortal man, Thamyris, son of Philammon. But their love was short-lived as Thamyris challenged the Muses to a music contest, lost, and was punished.

Apollo and Hyacinthus

One of the gods enamored by Hyacinthus' looks was Apollo, one of the Greek's most powerful gods. The myth hints that Apollo may have forced the Muses to agree to the contest against Thamyris so that he could get rid of his competition and have Hyacinthus all to himself. The two were inseparable; Apollo would have Hyacinthus travel with him in a chariot pulled by swans, and Apollo would teach him to play the lyre, use the bow, and hunt.

Their love, though, would come to an end during a game of discus. Apollo was teaching Hyacinthus how to throw the discus and threw it so hard it split clouds in two. Eager to please his lover, Hyacinthus ran after the discus, but it hit the earth hard as it came back down, rebounded, and hit Hyacinthus on the head, killing him. And no matter what Apollo did, his power was not enough to heal his lover in time before he perished.

The Jealousy of Zephyrus

There is a more popular version of this tragic love story that includes the god of the West Wind, Zephyrus. He was also in love with Hyacinthus and pledged his love for him when Apollo did. He was highly jealous that Hyacinthus picked Apollo and wanted revenge for his broken heart.

Zephyrus had been spying on the couple, and when he saw that they were playing discus, he took advantage of it to get his revenge. When the discus was thrown far, he watched Hyacinthus chase after it, and when he was far enough away from Apollo, he used his winds to throw the discus back at Hyacinthus, hitting him in the head and killing him. With this, he declared to Apollo that if he could not have Hyacinthus, nobody could.

When Apollo discovered his lover dead, he was enraged and wanted to take revenge on Zephyrus in an act of passion. Bur Eros, the primordial God of Love, prevented Apollo from getting his revenge since the act was made in a passion of love, thus falling under his protection. Zephyrus could escape Apollo's rage, but he ended up without his love; even if he could not have been with him, seeing him happy should have been enough, but he let his grief take over and hurt himself the most.

The Blooming of the Hyacinth

As Apollo held the body of Hyacinthus to him, he refused to let Hades take him to the Underworld. To prevent Hades from taking his soul, Apollo made beautiful flowers sprout from his spilled blood. The hyacinth plant bloomed from the blood, but some researchers believe that the flowers were Irises due to Apollo marking the flowers with the letters "AI AI," an exclamation of "alas." The hyacinth plant is more accepted since it is seen today as a symbol of Apollo and his strength and determination.

The Aftermath of Hyacinthus' Death

The death of Hyacinthus was celebrated in ancient times during Amyclae, the second most crucial Spartan festival during the Spartan month, Hyacinthia. The festival lasted three days that mourned the loss of Hyacinthus to rejoicing the majesty of Apollo.

An alternative ending to the myth says that Apollo eventually resurrected Hyacinthus and made him immortal. From there, Aphrodite, Athena, and Artemis took Hyacinthus to Mount Olympus to live the rest of his days in luxury.

A mortal falling in love with a god has a high chance of ending in their demise, as what befell Hyacinthus. In his case, his charm had attracted two gods so desperate to be with him that one decided that if he couldn't have him, no one could. Though Hyacinthus was killed by Zephyrus and mourned by Apollo, both can be seen as a symbol of love and desire, just one being on the opposing side. This myth also shows that homosexual love is not something to be disgusted by; it is natural and can occur within anyone should the right person come along. This myth should not be taken as a warning against loving someone of the same gender, but rather to be careful who you fall in love with. Be aware and prepared for what love can bring you; most often, it'll be positive, but be ready should something negative occur instead.