In ancient mythology, Zephyrus was the god of the west wind, and the bringer of light and early spring breezes. Zephyr derives from his name. In myth, Zephyros was a rival of the god Apollon for the love of Hyakinthos (Hyacinthus). One day he spied the pair playing a game of quoits in a meadow, and in a jealous rage, blew the disc off-course with a gust of wind, causing it to strike the boy in the head killing him instantly. Apollon stricken with grief, transformed the dying youth into a larkspur flower.