HYACINTH. 
PURPLE HYACINTH. 
{Sorrow — Play.) 
CCORDING to the mythologists, this fairy-like 
fragile flower had its origin in the death of 
Hyacinthus, a Spartan youth, greatly favoured 
by Apollo. He fell a victim to the jealous rage of 
Zephyrus, who, in revenge for the preference manifested 
for him by the Sun-god, had determined to effect his 
destruction. Accordingly, one day when Hyacinthus 
was playing at quoits with his divine friend, Zephyrus 
blew so powerfully upon the quoit flung by Apollo that it 
struck the unfortunate prince on the temple and killed 
him, to the intense grief of his innocent slayer. To com 
memorate the grace and beauty of the dead youth, 
Apollo, unable to restore him to life, caused the flower 
which now bears his name to spring from his blood. 
An annual solemnity, called Hyacinthia, was esta¬ 
blished in Laconia in honour of Hyacinthus. It lasted 
three days, during which the people, to show their grief 
for the loss of their darling prince, ate no bread, but fed 
upon sweetmeats, and abstained from adorning .their hair 
with garlands as on ordinary occasions. 
