HYACINTHUS
by Jean Lang · from A Book of Myths
Adapted Version
Long ago, a boy named Leo lived. He loved to run in the warm sun.
Leo was a happy boy. He had bright eyes. He had a big smile. He loved to play outside. He loved flowers. He loved fun games. He ran in the green grass. He played in the warm sun. He was a kind boy.
The Sun shone bright in the sky. He saw Leo playing. Sun liked the boy very much. He came down from the sky. He wanted to be Leo's friend. Sun had warm light. He had golden hair. He had a big, kind smile. They became good friends.
They played many games. They ran in the green meadows. They sang happy songs. They laughed loud. They played catch with a ball. They had much fun. They were always happy. Their friendship was very good. The sun felt warm on their faces. The grass felt soft under their feet.
The Wind watched them play. The Wind felt alone. He felt sad. He wanted to play too. But he was all alone. He watched Sun and Leo. He blew a soft sigh. He felt left out. He wished they would play with him.
One day, they played a game. It was a throwing game. They had a big, round disc. Sun threw the disc. He threw it very high. It went up into the blue sky. It spun in the air.
Leo ran to catch it. The sad Wind blew hard. The Wind pushed the disc. It went the wrong way. The Wind was very upset. He blew with all his might.
The disc bumped Leo. He fell to the ground. He closed his eyes. He did not open them again. He was very still. He did not move.
Sun ran to his friend. He held Leo close. Tears fell from Sun's eyes. He was very, very sad. He loved his friend so much. His heart felt heavy.
Sun wanted to not forget him. He wished for a special way. He wanted his friend to live always. He made a loving wish.
Then, a magic thing happened. Blue and purple flowers grew. They grew from the ground. They grew where Leo lay. They were very pretty flowers. They had soft petals. They looked up at the sky.
Each spring, these flowers come back. They are blue and purple. They remind us of Leo. He loved to play in the sun. He loved games and flowers. The flowers are a happy thought. Each spring, blue flowers come back. They say hello to the warm sun. They dance in the gentle wind.
Original Story
HYACINTHUS
... “The sad death
Of Hyacinthus, when the cruel breath
Of Zephyr slew him—Zephyr penitent
Who now, ere Phœbus mounts the firmament,
Fondles the flower amid the sobbing rain.”
Keats.
“Whom the gods love die young”—truly it would seem so, as we read the old tales of men and of women beloved of the gods. To those men who were deemed worthy of being companions of the gods, seemingly no good fortune came. Yet, after all, if even in a brief span of life they had tasted god-given happiness, was their fate one to be pitied? Rather let us keep our tears for those who, in a colourless grey world, have seen the dull days go past laden with trifling duties, unnecessary cares and ever-narrowing ideals, and have reached old age and the grave—no narrower than their lives—without ever having known a fulness of happiness, such as the Olympians knew, or ever having dared to reach upwards and to hold fellowship with the Immortals.
Hyacinthus was a Spartan youth, son of Clio, one of the Muses, and of the mortal with whom she had mated, and from mother, or father, or from the gods themselves, he had received the gift of beauty. It chanced one day that as Apollo drove his chariot on its all-conquering round, he saw the boy. Hyacinthus was as fair to look upon as the fairest of women, yet he was not only full of grace, but was muscular, and strong as a straight young pine on Mount Olympus that fears not the blind rage of the North Wind nor the angry tempests of the South.
When Apollo had spoken with him he found that the face of Hyacinthus did not belie the heart within him, and gladly the god felt that at last he had found the perfect companion, the ever courageous and joyous young mate, whose mood was always ready to meet his own. Did Apollo desire to hunt, with merry shout Hyacinthus called the hounds. Did the great god deign to fish, Hyacinthus was ready to fetch the nets and to throw himself, whole-souled, into the great affair of chasing and of landing the silvery fishes. When Apollo wished to climb the mountains, to heights so lonely that not even the moving of an eagle’s wing broke the everlasting stillness, Hyacinthus—his strong limbs too perfect for the chisel of any sculptor worthily to reproduce—was ready and eager for the climb. And when, on the mountain top, Apollo gazed in silence over illimitable space, and watched the silver car of his sister Diana rising slowly into the deep blue of the sky, silvering land and water as she passed, it was never Hyacinthus who was the first to speak—with words to break the spell of Nature’s perfect beauty, shared in perfect companionship. There were times, too, when Apollo would play his lyre, and when naught but the music of his own making could fulfil his longing. And when those times came, Hyacinthus would lie at the feet of his friend—of the friend who was a god—and would listen, with eyes of rapturous joy, to the music that his master made. A very perfect friend was this friend of the sun-god.
Nor was it Apollo alone who desired the friendship of Hyacinthus. Zephyrus, god of the South Wind, had known him before Apollo crossed his path and had eagerly desired him for a friend. But who could stand against Apollo? Sulkily Zephyrus marked their ever-ripening friendship, and in his heart jealousy grew into hatred, and hatred whispered to him of revenge. Hyacinthus excelled at all sports, and when he played quoits it was sheer joy for Apollo, who loved all things beautiful, to watch him as he stood to throw the disc, his taut muscles making him look like Hermes, ready to spurn the cumbering earth from off his feet. Further even than the god, his friend, could Hyacinthus throw, and always his merry laugh when he succeeded made the god feel that nor man nor god could ever grow old. And so there came that day, fore-ordained by the Fates, when Apollo and Hyacinthus played a match together. Hyacinthus made a valiant throw, and Apollo took his place, and cast the discus high and far. Hyacinthus ran forward eager to measure the distance, shouting with excitement over a throw that had indeed been worthy of a god. Thus did Zephyrus gain his opportunity. Swiftly through the tree-tops ran the murmuring South Wind, and smote the discus of Apollo with a cruel hand. Against the forehead of Hyacinthus it dashed, smiting the locks that lay upon it, crashing through skin and flesh and bone, felling him to the earth. Apollo ran towards him and raised him in his arms. But the head of Hyacinthus fell over on the god’s shoulder, like the head of a lily whose stem is broken. The red blood gushed to the ground, an unquenchable stream, and darkness fell on the eyes of Hyacinthus, and, with the flow of his life’s blood, his gallant young soul passed away.
“Would that I could die for thee, Hyacinthus!” cried the god, his god’s heart near breaking. “I have robbed thee of thy youth. Thine is the suffering, mine the crime. I shall sing thee ever—oh perfect friend! And evermore shalt thou live as a flower that will speak to the hearts of men of spring, of everlasting youth—of life that lives forever.”
As he spoke, there sprang from the blood-drops at his feet a cluster of flowers, blue as the sky in spring, yet hanging their heads as if in sorrow.[4]
DARKNESS FELL ON THE EYES OF HYACINTHUS
And still, when winter is ended, and the song of birds tell us of the promise of spring, if we go to the woods, we find traces of the vow of the sun-god. The trees are budding in buds of rosy hue, the willow branches are decked with silvery catkins powdered with gold. The larches, like slender dryads, wear a feathery garb of tender green, and under the trees of the woods the primroses look up, like fallen stars. Along the woodland path we go, treading on fragrant pine-needles and on the beech leaves of last year that have not yet lost their radiant amber. And, at a turn of the way, the sun-god suddenly shines through the great dark branches of the giants of the forest, and before us lies a patch of exquisite blue, as though a god had robbed the sky and torn from it a precious fragment that seems alive and moving, between the sun and the shadow.
And, as we look, the sun caresses it, and the South Wind gently moves the little bell-shaped flowers of the wild hyacinth as it softly sweeps across them. So does Hyacinthus live on; so do Apollo and Zephyrus still love and mourn their friend.
FOOTNOTE:
[4] Legend says that on the petals of the hyacinth Apollo transcribed the letters “Aì,”—“Alas!”
Story DNA
Moral
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Plot Summary
Hyacinthus, a beautiful Spartan youth, becomes the beloved companion of the god Apollo, sharing idyllic days of friendship. However, Zephyrus, the god of the South Wind, grows intensely jealous of their bond. During a game of discus, Zephyrus maliciously diverts Apollo's throw, causing the discus to strike and kill Hyacinthus. Overcome with grief, Apollo transforms Hyacinthus's spilled blood into the hyacinth flower, ensuring his eternal remembrance and symbolizing the enduring sorrow of the gods.
Themes
Emotional Arc
joy to sorrow
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story is a classical Greek myth, often recounted in various forms, explaining the origin of the hyacinth flower and reflecting ancient Greek beliefs about divine intervention, human-god relationships, and the power of emotions like love and jealousy among deities.
Plot Beats (12)
- The narrator introduces the theme of gods loving mortals and the bittersweet nature of such relationships.
- Hyacinthus, a beautiful Spartan youth, is introduced as the son of a Muse and a mortal.
- Apollo discovers Hyacinthus and is captivated by his beauty and spirit, taking him as a constant companion.
- Apollo and Hyacinthus share many joyful activities, from hunting and fishing to climbing mountains and listening to music, forming a perfect friendship.
- Zephyrus, the god of the South Wind, who also desired Hyacinthus, becomes consumed by jealousy and hatred towards Apollo and Hyacinthus.
- During a game of quoits, Apollo throws a discus with great force and distance.
- As Hyacinthus runs to retrieve the discus, Zephyrus maliciously diverts its path with a gust of wind.
- The discus strikes Hyacinthus in the head, causing a fatal injury.
- Apollo rushes to Hyacinthus, cradling him as he dies, expressing profound grief and guilt.
- Apollo, unable to save his friend, vows to immortalize him.
- From Hyacinthus's blood, a cluster of blue flowers, the hyacinth, springs forth.
- The narrator concludes by describing how the hyacinth blooms each spring, symbolizing Hyacinthus's enduring life and the gods' continued sorrow.
Characters
Hyacinthus ★ protagonist
A Spartan youth, as fair to look upon as the fairest of women, yet muscular and strong like a straight young pine. His limbs are described as too perfect for any sculptor to reproduce. He has a graceful yet powerful physique.
Attire: Likely simple, athletic attire suitable for a Spartan youth engaging in sports and hunting, such as a short chiton or tunic, possibly made of linen or wool, allowing for freedom of movement. No specific colors or patterns are mentioned, but functional and unadorned would be appropriate for his active lifestyle.
Wants: To share companionship and joy with Apollo, to excel in sports, and to experience life fully.
Flaw: His eagerness and trust in Apollo's throw, which made him vulnerable to Zephyrus's jealousy.
His life is tragically cut short. He transforms from a vibrant youth into the hyacinth flower, symbolizing everlasting youth and sorrow.
Courageous, joyous, enthusiastic, loyal, appreciative of beauty. He is always ready for adventure and companionship.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young Spartan man, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a muscular yet graceful physique, with dark, curly hair framing a handsome face. His eyes are dark and expressive. He wears a simple, short, cream-colored linen chiton, belted at the waist, leaving his strong legs and arms bare. He stands with a slight athletic lean, a look of eager excitement on his face. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Apollo ◆ supporting
A powerful and majestic god, capable of driving a sun chariot. He is described as having a 'god's heart' and is associated with beauty and strength, befitting a Greek deity.
Attire: Likely flowing, regal attire befitting a Greek god, possibly a chiton or himation made of fine, light-colored fabric, perhaps adorned with gold or laurel motifs. His clothing would emphasize his divine status and grace.
Wants: To find perfect companionship, to enjoy beauty and sport, and to honor the memory of his beloved Hyacinthus.
Flaw: His love for Hyacinthus makes him vulnerable to Zephyrus's jealousy, indirectly leading to tragedy.
Experiences profound grief and loss, transforming his beloved into a flower as a testament to his eternal love and sorrow.
Loving, appreciative of beauty, possessive, sorrowful, powerful, just. He deeply cherishes his companions.
Image Prompt & Upload
A powerful and majestic Greek god, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a strong, idealized physique, with golden, flowing hair and piercing, noble eyes. He wears a flowing, white chiton made of fine linen, draped elegantly over one shoulder, with a golden laurel wreath on his head. His expression is one of profound sorrow and love. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Zephyrus ⚔ antagonist
As the god of the South Wind, he is an unseen force, but his actions are described as having a 'cruel hand.' He is a powerful, elemental being.
Attire: As a wind god, he does not wear physical clothing in the human sense, but his presence is felt as a 'murmuring South Wind' through treetops.
Wants: To have Hyacinthus's friendship for himself, and when denied, to exact revenge on Apollo and Hyacinthus out of jealousy.
Flaw: His overwhelming jealousy and inability to accept rejection, leading to destructive actions.
Remains a figure of jealousy and sorrow, still 'mourning' his friend, though his actions caused the tragedy.
Jealous, sulky, vengeful, cruel. He cannot tolerate being denied what he desires.
Image Prompt & Upload
A powerful, ethereal male figure, depicted as a swirling, translucent gust of wind with a human-like form, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. His form is composed of soft, warm air currents, with faint, sulky facial features and dark, swirling hair. His hands are outstretched, appearing to manipulate an unseen force. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Mount Olympus Foothills / Spartan Countryside
A rugged, natural landscape with pine trees, suitable for hunting, fishing, and climbing. The air is clear and the light is bright, typical of ancient Greece.
Mood: Joyous, active, vibrant, filled with the energy of youth and companionship.
Apollo and Hyacinthus spend their days in various activities, cementing their friendship.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sun-drenched, rugged Spartan landscape with scattered, straight young pine trees on gentle slopes. The ground is a mix of dry earth and sparse, hardy scrub. In the distance, the outline of Mount Olympus rises under a clear, deep blue sky. Golden sunlight casts long shadows, highlighting the textured terrain. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Mountain Top
A high, lonely peak offering illimitable views of the landscape below, where the silence is profound, broken only by the occasional movement of an eagle's wing. The sky is deep blue, and the moon's silver light can be seen.
Mood: Serene, contemplative, majestic, a place of shared, silent beauty.
Apollo and Hyacinthus share moments of silent contemplation, watching Diana's moon rise.
Image Prompt & Upload
A desolate, rocky mountain peak under a vast, deep blue night sky. The horizon stretches endlessly, with faint silver moonlight illuminating distant land and water. The air is still and clear, emphasizing the profound silence. Sparse, hardy mountain flora might cling to crevices in the rock. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Quoits Field / Open Ground
An open, clear area, possibly a field or a clearing, where sports like quoits are played. The ground is firm for throwing discs.
Mood: Excited, competitive, but ultimately tragic.
The fatal game of quoits where Zephyrus diverts Apollo's discus, striking and killing Hyacinthus. The first hyacinths bloom from his blood.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sunlit, open field with short, dry grass, bordered by the dark, murmuring canopy of ancient Greek trees in the background. The ground is firm and slightly uneven. Golden sunlight bathes the scene, but a subtle, ominous shadow might hint at the approaching tragedy. A few scattered rocks or worn patches of earth suggest a well-used playing area. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Spring Woodland Path
A fragrant woodland path in early spring, with budding trees, willow branches, larches, and primroses. The ground is covered with pine needles and amber beech leaves from the previous year. Sunlight filters through the branches.
Mood: Hopeful, gentle, melancholic, a place of remembrance and enduring beauty.
The narrator describes the enduring presence of Hyacinthus in the form of the wild hyacinth flowers, moved by the South Wind and caressed by the sun.
Image Prompt & Upload
A winding woodland path in early spring, dappled with sunlight filtering through the budding canopy of ancient Greek forest giants. The ground is a soft carpet of fragrant pine needles and last year's radiant amber beech leaves. Clusters of primroses dot the undergrowth, and slender larches wear a tender green. At a turn, a patch of exquisite blue wild hyacinths blooms vibrantly between sun and shadow. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
