Hyacinthus

Role: son of Amyclas · First appears: Book 3 · Chapter 1

Hyacinthus, son of Amyclas, was the youngest and most handsome of his sons. He died during his father’s lifetime and had a monument at Amyclæ beside Apollo’s statue.

In Book 3, Chapter 19, he is said to be buried at Apollo’s altar, where offerings are made to him before the sacrifice to Apollo at his festival. Nicias portrayed him as very handsome and hinted at Apollo’s love for him; the same account says Hyacinthus and his sister Polybœa, who died a virgin, were carried to heaven, while leaving uncertain the traditions about Zephyr, Apollo accidentally slaying Hyacinthus, and the flower.

Relationship record

Life events

• Hyacinthus died before his father and received a monument at Amyclæ.(Book 3 · Chapter 1 · 📍 Amyclæ)
  • “And of his sons Hyacinthus, the youngest and most handsome, died in his father’s lifetime, and there is a monument of him at Amyclæ close to the statue of Apollo.”
• Hyacinthus is buried at Apollo’s altar and receives offerings there.(Book 3 · Chapter 19)
  • With: Apollo
  • “they say Hyacinthus is buried there, and at the festival of Hyacinthus, before they sacrifice to Apollo, they make offerings to Hyacinthus on this altar”

Book 3 · Chapter 1

• parent: Amyclas “And of his sons Hyacinthus, the youngest and most handsome, died in his father’s lifetime, and there is a monument of him at Amyclæ close to the statue of Apollo.”

Book 3 · Chapter 19

• courtship with Apollo “Nicias the son of Nicomedes has represented him as very handsome, hinting at the love of Apollo for him.”
• siblings with Polybœa “they are carrying to heaven Hyacinthus and his sister Polybœa who they say died a virgin.”
• admirer: Apollo “Nicias the son of Nicomedes has represented him as very handsome, hinting at the love of Apollo for him.”
• with Apollo (Apollo accidentally slew Hyacinthus.) “As to the Zephyr, and the story of Hyacinth having been accidentally slain by Apollo, and the legends about the flower Hyacinth, the traditions may possibly be baseless, but let them stand.”

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Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.