THE ILL-FATED LOVE OF HYACINTHUS

Since the beginning of time, Romance has surfaced in many shapes and forms, with many givers and receivers. Homosexuality is thought by many to be an unnatural form of love, but surprisingly, there is evidence of such relationships found as far back as Ancient Greece.

Scholars believe that Thamyris I---son of Philamon, who is thought to be either the son of Apollo or Hephaestus, both sons of Zeus--- was the first divinity to fall in love with a man.

The object of Thamyris' affections was the Spartan Hyacinthus I. Hyacinthus---Greek Vegetation deity---presented as a very handsome young man with looks compared to such stunning countenances of Adonis, Ganymede, Endymion, Hermaphoroditus and Narcissus. As can be seen from a quote from Homer's Odyssey, he may very well have had long, curly hair.

"...and from his head she made locks to flow in curls like the hyacinth flower." [Homer, Odyssey 6.230]

However, Thamyris, who excelled in both beauty and minstrelsy, boldly challenged the Muses to a musical contest, which he lost. Because of his boast, the Muses plucked out his eyes, stripped him of his minstrelsy, and banished him to the Underworld.

Apollo, the Sun God, became the next deity to be openly smitten with Hyacinthus. Unbeknownst to Apollo, Zephyrus, the West Wind, who was married to Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, had fallen deeply in love with Hyacinthus. Although Zephyrus was, by nature, gentle and benevolent (he was known for the sweet, mild western wind that drifts in with Spring), he was jealous of the blossoming relationship between Hyacinthus and Apollo. Eventually, Hyacinthus returned Apollo's affections, and failed to recognize Zephyrus' love.

One day, while tossing a discus with Apollo, Hyacinthus was struck down. The most popular legend of this event portrays Zephyrus, in a fit of jealousy, redirecting Apollo's discus and causing harm to Hyacinthus. Another version tells that the earth returned the throw, and hurled the object back at Hyacinthus' face.

Although Apollo flew to his love's side to try to save him, none of his herbs or healing art had any affect on the bleeding boy, and Hyacinthus died. The loss of his love devastated Apollo.

"Would that I could die for thee! But since that may not be, thou shalt live with me in memory and in song. My lyre shall celebrate thee, my song shall tell thy fate, and thou shalt become a flower inscribed with my regrets." from Ovid's Metamorphoses

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