I sing of Hyacinthus, Spartan youth of the beautiful
face whose eyes so shone that they did capture the gaze of
even Phoebus Apollo. He came to know an early death at the
hands of his own lover who fell in love with the youth in an
instant and loved him too briefly until his youthful death.
O that Apollo might see him again, if only for a moment!

How shall I tell of his birth? When he sprung from his
mother, beautiful Diomede even the nurse maids saw his
beauty and said jealously to each other, "He shall break
many hearts. I hope that I am the one with which he stays."
His mother heard the cries of the midwives and she silently
made a prayer to Zeus as she was holding her son for the
first time in her arms. She prayed to him saying, "O
almighty son of Cronos, thunder-bearing Zeus, I ask that my
beautiful son loves higher than these midwives. I pray he
loves and is loved by one of your godly peers on Mount
Olympus." And Zeus heard her prayer and granted it since her
father Lapithes had aided him when, as a bull, he had mated
Io.

In her prayer, fair Diomede did not say that she wanted
her son to love and be loved by a goddess, only that he
should love and be loved by a god on high Olympus. So it was
that Zeus granted that he would love and be loved not by a
goddess but by a strong and powerful god, a masculine deity
who would love and care for the fair Hyacinthus as
Hyacinthus would love and care for him.

So it was that 18 springs passed. Hyacinthus grew and
with him his beauty. His face became so radiant that some
even dared say his face was more radiant than even the eyes
of Phoebus Apollo. And Apollo at Delphi heard these words of
arrogance through the ears of the raven and became angered
with Hyacinthus, not the ones who spoke the words. In his
anger he journeyed in his chariot from Pythia and came to
Sparta to see the child for himself, to see his radiance and
his unmatched beauty.

So Phoebus Apollo descended disguised as a beggar so as
not to blind the mortals with his radiance. He took his
robes and smeared them with the most vile smelling dung and
changed his appearance to that of an old man, toothless and
crippled, his foot maimed. He began just outside the city's
gates and hobbled in his disguise to find the youth.

So Apollo entered the city looking for the youth. The
Spartan citizens who saw the filthy beggar did not stop or
offer the poor man shelter or food. For this Apollo grew
angrier at these Spartans and grew anxious to meet the
arrogant, beautiful Spartan youth so he might take revenge
upon the city that was inhospitable to those most in need.
And it is for this inhospitable nature that later Apollo
would take the Trojan side and help kill great Achilles.

Apollo came upon a blind man who, like himself, was
begging in the street. The Pythian Apollo then approached
the man and asked, "Do you know where the beautiful youth
called Hyacinthus lives?" And the blind man answered, "I
know too well the youth called Hyacinthus. He lives just
down this street in a small house with his mother and father
who have given everything so that their son will fulfill the
prophesy and love an Olympian god. I looked upon him and
when I saw him, I knew my eyes would never see a more
beautiful sight. I plucked my eyes out with my own hands and
happily for I knew I had seen the lover of a god."

The god was touched by the man's story and gave him a
coin worth a rich man's horse and walked the way the man had
directed. He soon came to the end of the road and saw the
small house as the man had described. As Apollo approached,
he heard from within the sound of singing. The great god's
heart beat faster for this was music as he had only heard in
Elysium, music of such rare beauty and strength that Apollo
himself became jealous of the boy's talent with the lyre and
his voice. The beauty of the song eased Apollo's jealousy
and made him forget his anger at the beautiful youth.

Phoebus Apollo came to the house and looked in the
window. The surrounding benches and chairs and walls were
plain and coarse. But it was not the house which Phoebus
Apollo marveled at but the person within the house. Sitting
on a chair, his eyes closed, beautiful Hyacinthus sat, his
mouth parted in his singing and his hands full as he played
upon the lyre. With that one look, Apollo knew the truth of
what the others said and knew that Hyacinthus' beauty
rivaled that of Apollo, although Apollo with his immortal
radiance would always shine a brighter than the mortal
youth.

At the sight of the youth, Apollo let out a sigh,
releasing his anger and letting in the love of this youth,
and Hyacinthus heard the sigh. That is why young men in
Sparta are called "listeners" (aitas) and their lovers
"inspirators" (eispnelas) because of Apollo's sigh to his
lover, Spartan Hyacinthus. But the Spartan youth was
startled as he saw the god who was still disguised as the
beggar at his window. He cried out once in fear, but then
realized the old man at his window was a guest and should be
treated as one.

Hyacinthus said to Apollo, "Forgive me, old man, but you
startled me with your sudden appearance. I did not hear you
approach. Indeed, you had the stealth of a god, like the
beautiful archer Apollo who watches over our city. Please
come in and join me for bread as my mother and father are
away so that I may fulfill my prophesy."

Apollo was touched by the generous words of the youth
and was struck as with Eros' arrow in love with the boy's
smile and beauty. Apollo said to the youth with the
beautiful smile, "You have done well, Hyacinthus, to treat
me like a guest in your home in this city where no one
besides a blind man treated me well. You have also paid
tribute to Phoebus Apollo for which you will be richly
rewarded. For I am the Delphian god you have worshipped. You
have gained today the fulfillment of the prophesy for I am
the god who loves you and the god you will love."

At this, brave Hyacinthus was much amazed for he had
thought he was helping a mere beggar. The Spartan youth fell
to the ground on his knees in worship of the god who was to
be his lover. Phoebus Apollo quickly grabbed his shoulders
and pulled him again to his feet, saying, "Do not kneel to
me, brave Hyacinthus, for you have proven yourself well.
Stand with me for you have already proven your piety." This
brave Hyacinthus did, again amazed, for he was taught to
honor and worship the gods, not to be their equal.

Apollo said, "Now, beautiful son of Amyclas, I will show
you my full radiance. No mortal can look upon me without
becoming blind in my radiance, but I will teach you the
secret. You must close your eyes tightly, then I will change
to my brilliant splendor. Slowly you must open your eyes,
ever so slowly so that your mortal orbs will grow accustomed
to my brilliant presence. Now, my love, close your eyes
tightly as though you are swimming in the Aegean Sea."

So the Spartan youth shut his eyes tightly, and yet he
wanted to see Apollo change. In his enthusiasm, he opened
his eyes. Apollo was not yet done transforming or else
Hyacinthus would have been blinded. Apollo quickly chastised
the boy, saying, "You are lucky like Hermes himself that you
are not now blind. Close your eyes! See how your eyes burn
at the sight of me now, only half transformed? Your eyes
will be blackened if you look again." So Hyacinthus once
more shut his eyes and waited for his love to change in form
and radiance.

The Spartan youth stood for many minutes while the god
transformed. He could feel the heat from Apollo's body as he
changed and the temptation to open his eyes was great.
Heeding Apollo's words, he resisted until Apollo bid him to
open his eyes.

Apollo said, "Now, beautiful Hyacinthus, open your eyes
slowly so you may behold the splendor of your lover."
Hyacinthus slowly cracked his eyes and they burned hotter
than before. But the Spartan youth believed the words of his
lover and slowly opened his eyes. First he saw only a
brilliant ball of fire and shielded his eyes from the heat.
Slowly a form emerged, the outline of a man amidst the
flames. Finally, without shielding his eyes from the heat of
the god, Hyacinthus looked upon Phoebus Apollo, god of youth
and music.

Hyacinthus said, "They have lied who have said that my
radiance compares to yours. You are beautiful beyond
compare, Phoebus Apollo, strong and manly. I know it was you
I have waited to love."

Then the youth stepped forward and made as if to embrace
the Pythian god. But Apollo again held back the eager youth
and forbade him from embracing him in his radiance, saying,
"Do not touch me in my state of radiance, my beautiful
youth. I must change one more time before you may touch me
so your mortal skin will not blacken under my touch. Just as
with closing your eyes, you must heed me in what I say."

So the Spartan youth stepped back and watched this time
as Apollo changed. His eyes had grown accustomed to the
brilliance of his lover, so he watched as Apollo
transformed. His radiance faded and his blazing eyes dimmed
and quickly Apollo stood before him like a youth of Sparta,
nearly as beautiful as Hyacinthus but just less so in his
mortal form. Hyacinthus still greatly admired the strong and
masculine countenance of his lover, saying, "Even in your
mortal form, you are brilliant and god-like."

Phoebus Apollo then bid the son of Amyclas forward with
his hands. Hyacinthus went forward willingly, still a virgin
to both man and woman. He walked to the god who embraced him
heartily. Phoebus Apollo said, "Now we are lovers, destined
to love forever. Your prophesy is fulfilled. Now we are
one." The youth and the god held each other for many
minutes, taking great solace in the arms of the other.

Apollo again spoke. "Beautiful Hyacinthus, come with me
tonight to my Delphian home. There I will lay with you and
we shall be united. Come to my chariot that we may speed
there before nightfall." So Apollo led the youth from his
home towards the home of his new lover.

On the way through the city, the lovers encountered the
same blind man. Hyacinthus stopped to talk with him, saying,
"Thamyris, tell my parents my destiny is fulfilled. Tell
them my lover Apollo has come to take me to his Delphian
home and there I am to be his lover as he is mine. Do this
and you shall be rewarded." The blind man fell to his knees
when he realized he was in the presence of a god but quickly
rose at Apollo's bidding. The blind man gave his humble
thanks to both the Spartan youth and Phoebus Apollo and they
continued towards Apollo's Pythian home.

The two climbed into Apollo's chariot and headed for
Delphi. They reached Apollo's home just before Helius had
finished his daily journey. Once inside, the god and the
Spartan youth made love as Selene made her journey across
the sky.

The next morning Hyacinthus roused Phoebus Apollo from
his slumber with his youthful enthusiasm. Today was
Hyacinthus' day to practice discus and he was eager to
practice with his new-found love, graceful Apollo. The youth
awoke the god and urged him to join him in the sport of
throwing the great discus.

Phoebus Apollo arose, still in his mortal form and went
with his love to a plain just west of Delphi. Helius was on
his way already, halfway between the night that was before
and the darker night approaching. In the heat of the day,
the god and the mortal took off their garments. Apollo took
olives from a nearby tree and squeezed them in his hand,
making an oil which he rubbed on the skin of his lover. With
the remaining oil, the Spartan youth covered the god's
mortal visage with the oil and their skin glistened in the
bright sun.

Apollo offered the discus to his youthful lover, but
Hyacinthus refused the first throw saying, "I have much to
learn from you, Phoebus Apollo. I desire to see you throw
first so that I may learn to throw as far as you." The god
was pleased with his words and took the great discus to
throw.

The god spun around three times before letting the great
discus loose. His throw was the perfect balance of skill and
strength, his form perfect and his throw long. The discus
sailed high above any mortal throw, even cutting a cloud
above in two equal parts. The Spartan youth was amazed at
the strength of his lover and kissed him quickly. The discus
still flew in the air. It passed birds flying and still did
not come down. Many minutes passed and the discus passed out
of sight. Finally the great discus reappeared and slowly
descended towards the vast earth.

Hyacinthus saw the spot where the great discus would
land and quickly ran to it. Apollo was watching the disc
fall and did not see the beautiful youth go from his side.
As the discus came closer to the earth, he saw Hyacinthus
running towards where the discus would land. The Pythian god
cried out "Hyacinthus, return to my side for you are
tempting the fates by getting so close to the great discus I
have thrown."

Hyacinthus heard him but instead responded, "I will be
careful. Do not worry." O sad story that these were the last
words Delphian Apollo heard from his beautiful lover,
Hyacinthus!

Apollo ran towards Hyacinthus but the discus was falling
faster than even swift-footed Hermes could travel. It hit
the ground near the Spartan youth's feet and shook the
ground. But the great discus did not rest upon the ground.
The disc hit by Hyacinthus' feet and was thrown with great
violence up from the earth. The heavy disc hit Hyacinthus'
face with the same god-like force with which it was
thrown.

The youth cried out once, the name of his lover Apollo
and then fell upon the ground, his neck shattered and his
beautiful face obscured by freshly flowing blood. Apollo
rushed to the youth's side but no medicine would revive the
youth or heal his injury. The youth's head hung upon his
shoulders limply like a flower with a broken stem.

Phoebus Apollo took the youth in his arms crying, "You
slip away, cheated of your youthful prime. I have to look
only to my own hand to see your murderer. What wrong have I
done? Have I wronged to play a game with you? Have I wronged
to have loved you? O I would quickly exchange my life for
yours or die with you but that I am immortal! Yet you will
always be with me my lover, my sweet Spartan youth. Your
name will cling to my lips, forever remembering. You will be
my theme now as I pluck my lyre and my songs will be sung to
you. And a new flower will have your name, inscribed with my
grief at your loss. That flower will one day be linked to a
great hero, one of the greatest of the Trojan war."

And as he spoke, a drop of ripe blood fell from the
youth's shattered face and spilled upon the ground. The
earth stained red with his blood and then was transformed
into a flower, like a lily, but its color a purple, more
brilliant than even Tyrian dye. And Apollo, true to his
words, inscribed upon the petals of the flower, "AI AI" so
that all would remember his pain at the loss of his youthful
lover.

Sparta was proud to claim Hyacinthus as her son and his
glory endures to this day; every year a festival, the
Hyacinthia, is celebrated in his honor with ceremonies
ancient in their traditions to both the Spartan youth and
his Pythian lover.

Hail, Spartan youth of the beautiful face who captured
the love of Apollo! Yet I shall remember you and another
song too.