Hyacinth (mythology)
Detail from The Death of Hyacinth by Jean Broc
In Greek mythology, Hyacinth (or Hyacinthus) was the son of Clio and Pierus, King of Macedonia. Hyacinth was a beautiful youth beloved by the god Apollo. He died accidentally as the myth goes due to a discus thrown by Apollo, which struck Hyacinth on the head, killing him.
There is another myth which adds that it was the wind god Zephyrus who was actually responsible for the death of Hyacinth. Zephyrus blew the discus off course, out of jealousy, so as to injure and kill Hyacinth. When he died, Apollo made a flower, the hyacinth, spring out from his spilled blood. However, the flower of the mythological Greek youth Hyacinth slain by Apollo's discus has been identified with a number of plants other than the true hyacinth, such as the iris.
Although the mythical Hyacinth was male, Hyacinth is currently in use as a female name.
