Hyacinthia
（
τὰ Ὑακίνθια). A festival, celebrated for three days in
the summer of each year, at
Amyclae, in honour of Apollo
and his unhappy favourite Hyacynthus (q.v.). Müller gives strong reasons for
supposing that the Hyacinthia was originally a festival of Demeter. Like other festivals in
honour of nature, the festival of the Hyacinthia, celebrated by the Spartans at Amyclae for
three days in July, down to the time of the Roman emperors, was connected with the expression
of grief at the death of vegetation, of joy over the harvest, and of cheerful trust in the
re-awakening of nature. On the first day, which was dedicated to silent mourning, sacrifice to
the dead was offered at the grave of Hyacinthus, which was under the statue of Apollo in the
temple at Amyclae. The following day was spent in public rejoicing in honour of Apollo, in
which all the populace, including the slaves, took part. They went in festal procession with
choruses of singing boys and girls, accompanied by harps and flutes, to the temple of Apollo,
where games and competitions, sacrifices and entertainments to one another took place, and a
robe, woven by the Spartan women, was offered to the god.
