Context essay
The story of Apollo and Hyacinthus is the fourth story in the tenth book of Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Apollo’s characteristics include being interested in poetry and music, being an athlete, and providing care for young citizens. The story prior to this one, the story of Cyparissus, leads nicely into the story of Apollo and Hyacinthus, as it reflects a similar plotline that involves the death of a close friend, as well as portrays Apollo as a caring and godly figure. This myth displays Cyparissus, a mortal man and a lover of Apollo, and his accidental killing of his beloved stag. Very similar to Apollo’s unintended throw of the discus that kills Hyacinthus (X. 185), Cyparissus wounds his pet through an accidental discharge of his bow. The boy’s grief is so great, that he asks Apollo to transform him into a cypress tree to symbolize his mourning. Cypres is known a the “mournful” tree by the Greeks and Romans, and is sacred to the rulers of the underworld. This myth is why many cultures around the world still associate a Cypress tree with the symbolism of mourning.
Similar to the story of Cyparissus, Hyacinthus is another boy who is admired by Apollo and who is a close friend. One afternoon when Apollo and Hyacinthus decide to train for a discus throwing competition, Apollo strikes Hyacinthus, sending him towards his death. Some have come to believe that Zephyrus caused Hyacinthus’ death by blowing the discus off course. Apollo remains with Hyacinthus until his end, but concludes his death by turning him into a Hyacinth flower marked with the letters ai ai (alas, alas) inscribed on its leaves (X. 215). He decides to do so, in order to have Hyacinthus remain with him forever, and for something to remember his beloved friend by. His death is an important element of a three day Amyclaean Hyacinthia: a great national festival celebrated every year by the Amycleans and the Spartans. The story closes with this celebration of Hyacinthus, to represent his honor and to keep the memory of him everlasting.
Ovid’s Metamorphoses continues onto the Two Incidents of Venus’ Anger, which tells the story of two girls, the daughters of Amathus, who commit murders of innocent visitors to the town of Cyprus. Although some mistake the blood for livestock, it actually belongs to the victims who are later made into horned bulls. This story specifically does not pertain to Apollo and Hyacinthus. Nonetheless, the clear connection across all three stories, is the continuous symbolism of blood and the deaths that occur. Represented in multiple stories in Ovid Metamorphoses, death is a strong motif and recurring event. These three stories focus heavily on the idea of the accidental deaths of a dear friend or murder, and all characters killed in these stories portray qualities of innocence.
Similar to the story of Cyparissus, Hyacinthus is another boy who is admired by Apollo and who is a close friend. One afternoon when Apollo and Hyacinthus decide to train for a discus throwing competition, Apollo strikes Hyacinthus, sending him towards his death. Some have come to believe that Zephyrus caused Hyacinthus’ death by blowing the discus off course. Apollo remains with Hyacinthus until his end, but concludes his death by turning him into a Hyacinth flower marked with the letters ai ai (alas, alas) inscribed on its leaves (X. 215). He decides to do so, in order to have Hyacinthus remain with him forever, and for something to remember his beloved friend by. His death is an important element of a three day Amyclaean Hyacinthia: a great national festival celebrated every year by the Amycleans and the Spartans. The story closes with this celebration of Hyacinthus, to represent his honor and to keep the memory of him everlasting.
Ovid’s Metamorphoses continues onto the Two Incidents of Venus’ Anger, which tells the story of two girls, the daughters of Amathus, who commit murders of innocent visitors to the town of Cyprus. Although some mistake the blood for livestock, it actually belongs to the victims who are later made into horned bulls. This story specifically does not pertain to Apollo and Hyacinthus. Nonetheless, the clear connection across all three stories, is the continuous symbolism of blood and the deaths that occur. Represented in multiple stories in Ovid Metamorphoses, death is a strong motif and recurring event. These three stories focus heavily on the idea of the accidental deaths of a dear friend or murder, and all characters killed in these stories portray qualities of innocence.