Adonis

Adonis is among the most beautiful of all men.  When he was born, Aphrodite saw him and wanted him as her own.

 

Adonis -  Artist Unknown restored by François Duquesnoy

 

Adonis -  Bertel Thorvaldsen

Aphrodite placed him in a closed chest, which she delivered for security to Persephone who was also entranced by his unearthly beauty and refused to give him back.

 

Zeus decided that Adonis should spend half the year with the queen of the dead and the other half with the goddess of love.

 

Adonis speared at a wild boar which in turn goared him with its great tusks.

 
           The Death of Adonis - Giuseppe Mazzuoli 
Aphrodite flew to him but he was breathing his life away.  Where his blood dropped rose a crimson flower, anemone or wind flower, that is short-lived and takes its name from the wind which so easily makes it fall.  

Hyacinthus / Hyakinthos

Hyacinthus, the fairest of youths, was a young Spartan prince loved by men and gods.

Thamyris the first male to love other males, fell in love with Hyakinthos.  When Apollo saw the boy, he was seized with love for him, and would not leave him (Thessalian's version).

 

They were just playing a game with no rivalry between them. Apollo hurled the discus with his mighty strength and set it flying through the air.

Zephyr, the West Wind, was also in love with the handsome prince.  

In a fit of jealous rage, as the prince preferred the sun god to him, he blew upon the discus and made it strike Hyacinth.

The god was horror-struck to see blood gushed forth and the lad, deathly pale, fell to the ground.  Apollo tried desperately to staunch the blood flowing from the wound but it was all in vain.  He cried out "Oh, if only I could pay for my deed by joining you in your journey to the cheerless realms of the dead. Oh, why am I cursed to live forever?"

A fragrant red flower rose from Hyacinth's blood and on its petals you can still read the letters "Ay," the sigh of pain that rose from Apollo's breast.

Narcissus

"He will live to a long life if he does not know himself"

Youth of exceptional beauty and was loved by all, both nymphs and youths. With arrogance and hardness of heart, Narcissus rejected them all.

He gave Ameinias, a young man, a sword to kill himself (Homer version) and rejected Echo, a nymph,  causing her to fade away (Ovid version).

 



















 





















Ameinias prayed to Nemesis that Narcissus would one day know the pain of unrequited love. This curse was fulfilled when Narcissus became entranced by his own reflection in a pool. 

"May he who loves not others loves himself"

As he realised the beautiful youth was but his own reflection, Narcissus pined away, leaning perpetually over the pool, fixed in one long gaze.

The body was never to be found, what remained by the pond bloomed a lovely flower which was thus named Narcissus.

Short Life

 

Fair Daffodils, we weep to see
You haste away so soon;
As yet the early-rising sun
Has not attain'd his noon.
Stay, stay,
Until the hasting day
Has run
But to the even-song;
And, having pray'd together, we
Will go with you along.

We have short time to stay, as you,

We have as short a spring;

As quick a growth to meet decay,

As you, or anything.

We die

As your hours do, and dry

Away,

Like to the summer's rain;

Or as the pearls of morning's dew,

Ne'er to be found again.

                                                                    - Robert Herrick