M/M: Apollo and Hyacinthus. Lactantius Placidus, Narr. 10.5

Hyacinthus Amyclae, dilectus ab Apolline, cum per iocum in certamen disci venisset, altius iactum pondus non prius despicere potuist, quam capiti sensit iniectum; quo eliso post obitum eius cruor in florem eius nomine inscriptum accessit.

--Lactantius Placidus, Qui dicitur Narrationes Fabularum Ovidianarum Liber 10.5

Hyacinthus of Amyclae. Apollo loved him. When he playfully challenged him to a contest with a discuss. Hyacinthus didn’t notice the discus coming at him until it struck him on the head. After he died, Apollo transformed his blood into a flower that bears his name (the hyacinth).

LACTANTIUS PLACIDUS

MAP:

Name:  Lactantius Placidus

Date:  5^th or 6^th century CE

Works:  Abridgement of Ovids’ Metamorphoses

Commentary on Statius’ Thebaid

 

REGION  UNKNOWN

BIO:

Timeline:

 Little is known about this Christian author, but he is known for his commentary on Statius’ Thebaid and an abridgement of Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

 LATE LATIN / BYZANTINE