in antiquity, feasts held at Sparta, in honour of Apollo, and in commemoration of his favourite Hyacinth.

This Hyacinth was the son of Amyclas king of Sparta, and was beloved both by Apollo and Zephyrus. The youth showing most inclination to the former, his rival grew jealous; and, to be revenged, one day as Apollo was playing at the discus, i.e. quoits, with Hyacinth, Zephyrus turned the direction of a quoit which Apollo had pitched full upon the head of the unhappy Hyacinth, who fell down dead. Apollo then transformed him into a flower of the same name; and as a farther token of respect, they say, commanded this feast. The Hyacinthia lasted three days; the first and third whereof were employed in bewailing the death of Hyacinth, and the second in feasting and rejoicing.