As initiation myth thumb|left|Apollo, Hyacinthus, and Cyparissus Making Music and Singing by Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov 1831-1834 The myth of Cyparissus, like that of Hyacinthus, has often been interpreted as reflecting the social custom of pederasty in ancient Greece, with the boy the beloved (eromenos) of Apollo. Pederastic myth represents the process of initiation into adult male life,Bernard Sergent, Homosexualité dans la mythologie grecque, 1984 (Chapter 2), with an introduction by Georges Dumézil, whose lead Sergent follows. with a "death" and transfiguration for the eromenos. "In all these tales," notes Karl Kerenyi, "the beautiful boys are doubles of [Apollo] himself."Karl Kerenyi, The Gods of the Greeks (Thames and Hudson, 1951), p. 140.
as initiation myth thumb|left|apollo hyacinthus and cyparissus making music and singing by alexander andreyevich ivanov 1831-1834 the myth of cyparissus like that of hyacinthus has often been interpreted as reflecting the social custom of pederasty in ancient greece with the boy the beloved (eromenos) of apollo pederastic myth represents the process of initiation into adult male lifebernard sergent homosexualité dans la mythologie grecque 1984 (chapter 2) with an introduction by georges dumézil whose lead sergent follows with a "death" and transfiguration for the eromenos "in all these tales" notes karl kerenyi "the beautiful boys are doubles of [apollo] himself"karl kerenyi the gods of the greeks (thames and hudson 1951) p 140