Hyakinthos

God of vegetation. Greek. An ancient pre-Homeric deity known particularly from Amyklai (pre-Dorian seat of kingship at Sparta). He is beloved by APOLLO who perversely kills him with a discus and changes him into a flower. At Amyklai the bronze of Apollo stands upon an altar-like pedestal said to be the grave of Hyakinthos and, prior to sacrifice being made to Apollo, offerings to Hyakinthos were passed through a bronze door in the pedestal.