In the most widely known version of the myth, Adonis was the son of Kinyras, the king of Cyprus. The goddess Aphrodite was the one who had led Myrra, King's daughter, or Smyrna, to an affectionate love for her father. Myra went to the King's bed in the dark, hiding her identity, and as a result Adonis was conceived. Kinyras felt horrified by the mistake he had made and wanted to kill his daughter. However, Venus was filled with guilt for her involvement in cheating, so fortunately she turned the girl into a tree later named after her: the myrrh. Adonis was miraculously born of the tree that had become his mother. He was incredibly handsome, and Aphrodite fell in love with him. She saved Adonis from Kinyras by placing the child on a carved chest and giving it to Persephone, the goddess of the Under World to take care of him. However, Persephone also fell in love with the beautiful boy-with a love that never ended. She refused to give him back to Aphrodite, and the two goddesses had a fierce controversy. Zeus was called upon to judge their rival claims. He believed that the boy would have to spend one third of the year on the earth with Aphrodite, one third of the year in the underworld with Persephone, and the other third in whatever way he chose. Adonis spent his free time in hunting.
Aphrodite had warned Adonis to be careful when hunting, but he was a stubborn young man who paid no attention. So when his dogs had a wild boar, he hurled his spear into the animal, only to strike it on the sides and then the boar rushed to attack him. With his teeth the animal took out the spear and run after the fleeing Adonis. When the animal caught the young man, he nailed one of the tusks into his groin. As Adonis was dying, Aphrodite heard his moans and turned her chariot in his direction. She took his amputated body in her arms and decided that a memorial would be held every year to honor her beloved one and that his blood every spring would turn into the flowers of the anemone. So the anemone that flourished with her command is a beautiful flower that is almost as beautiful as Adonis himself but with a short life.
