Hyacinth’s Transformation

In the south of the Peloponnese peninsula, which is now part of Greece, there was once a completely different country. It was called Sparta. The people of Sparta loved celebrating. They loved all kinds of traditions, rituals, holidays and celebrations, and one of the most important festivals they organized was the Hyacinth festival, which was a reminder to them forever of the boy this story is about.

The boy’s name was Hyacinth. He was the son of the Spartan queen Diomedes and her husband, King Amyclus. Hyacinth grew up content and happy in sun-drenched Sparta, having everything he needed and nothing to worry about. When he was old enough, he began to learn all kinds of arts, sciences and sports. He was educated in philosophy, mathematics, poetry and history. He threw the discus, rode a horse-drawn carriage, ran and jumped long distances.

Hyacinth was a very clever and skillful boy, and at the same time friendly and kind. That made him very popular, not only with the other boys and girls in Sparta, but also with the gods. In those times, the gods inhabited the same world as the humans.

Two of the gods who loved Hyacinth the most were the sun god Apollo and the god of the west wind Zephyrus. Both wanted to be friends with Hyacinth, but Hyacinth only wanted to be friends with Apollo. Who knows why he didn’t make friends with Zephyrus too – but that’s just how it goes. Some people are more likeable to us and some less. Hyacinth simply got along with Apollo much better, and he wanted to spend his time with him.

Together, they did things they both loved doing. They rode horses, wrestled, competed in running and discus throwing. And when they were…