Greek Mythology romance (Apollo and Hyacinthus)

I was just reading an amazing yaoi fanfic in ff.net; where the author made comparisons several times to the Greek mythic story of Apollo and Hyacinthus. Curious; I researched it a bit. Here is what I found on wikipedia.

In Greek mythology, Hyacinth or Hyacinthus (in Greek, Ὑάκινθος — Hyakinthos) was a divine hero, the son of Clio and Pierus, King of Macedonia, or of king Oebalus of Sparta, or of king Amyclas, also a Spartan. His cult at Amyclae, where his tomb was located, at the feet of Apollo's statue, dates from the Mycenean era.

In the myth, Hyacinth was a beautiful youth loved by the god Apollo. The two took turns throwing the discus, until Apollo, to impress him, threw it with all his might. Hyacinth ran to catch it, to impress Apollo in turn, and was struck by the discus as it fell to the ground and he died.

Another myth adds that the wind god Zephyrus was actually responsible for the death of Hyacinth. The boy's beauty caused a feud between Zephyrus and Apollo. Jealous that Hyacinth preferred the radiant archery god Apollo, Zephyrus blew Apollo's discus off course, so as to injure and kill Hyacinth.

When he died, Apollo didn't allow Hades(Greek God of the Underworld) to claim the boy; rather, he made a flower, the hyacinth, from his spilled blood. According to Ovid's account, the tears of Apollo stained the newly formed flower's petals with the sign of his grief.However, the flower of the mythological Hyacinth has been identified with a number of plants other than the true hyacinth, such as the iris.

Its just so tragic; and beautiful at the same time. The following is an oil-painting "The Death of Hyacinthos" by Jean Broc. Hyacinth is the figure on the left of the frame being supported by his lover Apollo - the discus may be seen in the bottom left. (Courtesy Wikipedia)

 

( The Death of Hyacinthos(Not Worksafe) )

 

Greek Mythology romance (Apollo and Hyacinthus)

I was just reading an amazing yaoi fanfic in ff.net; where the author made comparisons several times to the Greek mythic story of Apollo and Hyacinthus. Curious; I researched it a bit. Here is what I found on wikipedia.

In Greek mythology, Hyacinth or Hyacinthus (in Greek, Ὑάκινθος — Hyakinthos) was a divine hero, the son of Clio and Pierus, King of Macedonia, or of king Oebalus of Sparta, or of king Amyclas, also a Spartan. His cult at Amyclae, where his tomb was located, at the feet of Apollo's statue, dates from the Mycenean era.

In the myth, Hyacinth was a beautiful youth loved by the god Apollo. The two took turns throwing the discus, until Apollo, to impress him, threw it with all his might. Hyacinth ran to catch it, to impress Apollo in turn, and was struck by the discus as it fell to the ground and he died.

Another myth adds that the wind god Zephyrus was actually responsible for the death of Hyacinth. The boy's beauty caused a feud between Zephyrus and Apollo. Jealous that Hyacinth preferred the radiant archery god Apollo, Zephyrus blew Apollo's discus off course, so as to injure and kill Hyacinth.

When he died, Apollo didn't allow Hades(Greek God of the Underworld) to claim the boy; rather, he made a flower, the hyacinth, from his spilled blood. According to Ovid's account, the tears of Apollo stained the newly formed flower's petals with the sign of his grief.However, the flower of the mythological Hyacinth has been identified with a number of plants other than the true hyacinth, such as the iris.

Its just so tragic; and beautiful at the same time. The following is an oil-painting "The Death of Hyacinthos" by Jean Broc. Hyacinth is the figure on the left of the frame being supported by his lover Apollo - the discus may be seen in the bottom left. (Courtesy Wikipedia)

 

( The Death of Hyacinthos(Not Worksafe) )