Adonis
Adonis was a youth of such extraordinary beauty that Aphrodite herself fell in love with him — his death and annual rebirth became a metaphor for the cycle of seasons.
The Legend of Adonis
Born from the myrrh tree into which Aphrodite had transformed his mother Myrrha, Adonis was so beautiful that both Aphrodite and Persephone in Hades claimed him. Zeus sent the Muse Calliope to judge, and she divided his year: one third with Aphrodite, one third with Persephone, one third as he chose. Ares, jealous of Aphrodite's devotion, sent a wild boar that gored Adonis on a hunt. From his blood sprang anemones. His story echoes the seasonal myths of Demeter and Persephone, linking love, death, and renewal.
Parents
Cinyras and Myrrha
Symbols
Fun Fact
An "Adonis" in English means a supremely handsome young man — the myth gave us the ultimate compliment for male beauty.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Hyas
🗡 heroHunting, grief, stars
Hunter whose death from a lion or boar caused such grief in his sisters that they were transformed into the Hyades star cluster
Narcissus
🗡 heroYouth who fell in love with his own reflection
A beautiful youth who rejected all lovers and fell in love with his own reflection in a pool. Unable to embrace the image, he wasted away and became a flower.
Hyacinthus
🗡 heroBeautiful youth killed by a discus
Hyacinthus was a Spartan prince of extraordinary beauty loved by both Apollo and Zephyrus — his accidental death gave birth to the hyacinth flower.
Aeson
🗡 heroFather of Jason, rejuvenated by Medea
Aeson was Jason's aged father whom Medea rejuvenated through sorcery — cutting his throat, draining his blood, and filling him with a magical potion.
Iphis of Argos
🗡 heroUnrequited Love, Class, Suicide
Poor Argive youth who died of unrequited love for Anaxarete, who was then turned to stone.
Acis
🗡 heroLove, rivers
Sicilian shepherd youth beloved by the sea-nymph Galatea and crushed by the jealous Cyclops Polyphemus
Ampelus
🗡 herotransformation
Beautiful satyr youth beloved by Dionysus who died riding a wild bull and was transformed into the first grapevine.
Endymion
🗡 heroShepherd loved by the Moon
Endymion was a beautiful shepherd whom the moon goddess Selene loved so deeply that she asked Zeus to grant him eternal sleep — so she could gaze upon him forever.
Ariadne
🗡 heroPrincess who saved Theseus from the Labyrinth
Daughter of King Minos who fell in love with Theseus and gave him the thread that allowed him to escape the Labyrinth after slaying the Minotaur.
Myrrha
🗡 herotransgression, transformation
A princess cursed by Aphrodite to desire her own father, whose tears of shame became myrrh resin after the gods transformed her into a tree.
Pygmalion
🗡 heroSculptor who fell in love with his statue
Pygmalion was a sculptor who carved a woman so beautiful he fell in love with it — Aphrodite brought the statue to life, and she became his wife Galatea.
Psyche
🗡 heroMortal whose love conquered a god
Psyche was a princess so beautiful that Aphrodite was jealous — she married Eros in darkness and lost him when she looked, then won him back through impossible labours.