The Hyacinthia was the Spartan festival held in honor of Apollo at Amyclae.
Amyclae was an important sanctuary and settlement south of Sparta. The festival centered on Apollo and also preserved the myth of Hyacinthus, a beautiful youth whom Apollo accidentally killed. Ancient ritual traditions linked mourning for Hyacinthus with celebration of Apollo’s divine status.
The Hyacinthia lasted several days and included offerings, processions, choral performances, dances, and communal activity. The festival was important enough that Spartan military movements could be affected by religious observances. This shows how ritual calendars shaped political and military decisions in Greek city-states.
Hyacinthia is often confused with the Karneia, another major Spartan festival dedicated to Apollo. The Karneia was associated with the Dorian world and military restrictions, while the Hyacinthia was specifically connected with Amyclae and the Apollo–Hyacinthus tradition.