on at funerals.]

[Footnote 34: _Hyacinthian festival._--Ver. 219. The Hyacinthia
was a festival celebrated every year at Amyclae, in Laconia, by the
people of that town and of Sparta. Some writers say that it was
held solely in honour of Apollo; others, of Hyacinthus; but it is
much more probable, that it was intended to be in honour of both
Apollo and Hyacinthus. The festival lasted for three days, and
began on the longest day of the Spartan month, Hecatombaeus. On the
first and last day, sacrifices were offered to the dead, and the
fate of Hyacinthus was lamented. Garlands were forbidden to be
worn on those days, bread was not allowed to be eaten, and no
songs were recited in praise of Apollo. On the second day,
rejoicing and amusements prevailed; the praises of Apollo were
sung, and horse races were celebrated; after which, females,
riding in chariots made of wicker-work, and splendidly adorned,
formed a beautiful procession. On this day, sacrifices were
offered, and the citizens kept open houses for their friends and
relations. Athenaeus mentions a favourite meal of the Laconians on
this occasion, which was called +kopis+, and consisted of cakes,
bread, meat, broth, raw herbs, figs, and other fruits, with the
seeds of the lupine. Macrobius says, that chaplets of ivy were
worn at the Hyacinthia; but, of course, that remark can only apply
to the second day. Even when they had taken the field against an
enemy, the people of Amyclae were in the habit of returning home on
the approach of the Hyacinthia, to celebrate that festival.]

EXPLANATION.

Hyacinthus, as Pausanias relates, was a youth of Laconia. His father
educated him with so much care, that he was looked upon as the
favourite of Apollo, and of the Muses. As he was one day playing
with his companions, he unfortunately received a blow on the head
from a quoit, from the effects of which he died soon after. Some
funeral verses were probably composed on the occasion; in which it
was said, with the view of comforting his relations, that Boreas,
jealous of the affection which Apollo had evinced for the youth, had
turned aside the quoit with which they played; and thus, by degrees,
in length of time the name of Apollo became inseparably connected
with the story.

The Lacedaemonians each year celebrated a solemn festival near his
tomb, where