HULAGPOS

Cyparissus was a young boy and son of Telephus.  Apollo gave the boy a tame deer as a companion. The gift of a hunter’s prey is an initiatory gift in the sphere of the hunt, a supervised preparation for the manly arts of war and a testing ground for behavior. Cyparissus led the stag through rich meadows, and to cool springs of crystal-clear water. Sometimes he hung wreaths of perfumed flowers from his great antlers, and other times he would leap astride the magic beast and ride laughing through the flowered valley of Carte.

It was noontime, on a hot summer day. The heat was unbearable. Seeking shelter from the pitiless rays of the sun the stag lay down in the shade, taking shelter under some thick bushes. As chance would have it, Cyparissus had gone out to hunt not far from there. From a distance, and covered with leaves, the stag looked like any other. Cyparissus was a good hunter, and as soon as he glimpsed the hiding deer he cast his lance with un-erring aim. Little did he know that the animal he had mortally wounded was the sacred stag. But as he drew near and realized what he had done, horror filled his heart. Overcome with sorrow, he decided to die along his antlered friend.

All of Apollo’s consolations were in vain. His grief was boundless. And so he begged the god of the silver bow to let him grieve forever. Apollo granted his wish. The youth turned into a tree. His thick hair became dark green foliage, and his slim body became covered with bark. Before Apollo’s eyes he stretched up to the sky and became a majestic cypress tree. Its tip seemed to pierce the heavens like an arrow. Apollo sighed sadly and whispered: “All eternity I will weep for you, wonderful youth, and you in turn will partake of the sadness of others. Stand then from now until forever besides those stricken by sorrow.”