Hyacinth is a type of flower that is named after Hyacinthus, a character from Greek mythology. According to the myth, Hyacinthus was a beautiful youth loved by the god Apollo.
One day, while the two were playing a game of discus, Apollo accidentally struck Hyacinthus in the head with the discus, killing him.
In his grief, Apollo created the hyacinth flower from the blood of Hyacinthus. The flower is said to have sprung up where each drop of blood fell. The petals of the hyacinth are said to bear the Greek letters “AI AI,” which were the cries of mourning uttered by Apollo when he realized what had happened.
This mythological story has been passed down through the ages, and the flower has been named after Hyacinthus ever since. The hyacinth is also sometimes referred to as the “Jacinth” flower, which is derived from the French word “jacinthe” and the Latin word “hyacinthus.”
Written by Tony Bierman
Tony Bierman co-founded Candlecopia, a home fragrance company, in 2009. In addition to being a 15-year veteran of the home fragrance industry, Tony is also an author, an award-winning software developer, and an amateur photographer. In his spare time, you’ll find him hiking the woods of Roanoke Creek, with his camera and his dogs.