The New Student's Reference Work/Adonis

Adonis (a-dō′nis), a very beautiful youth celebrated in Greek mythology. The goddess Venus loved him for his beauty, and hid him in a chest, which she intrusted to Proserpine, the goddess of the lower world. A dispute arose between them for his possession, and Jupiter decided that each should enjoy his presence for half the year. Adonis was fond of hunting, and was finally killed by a wild boar in the forests of Ida. The bitter lament of Venus for his loss moved the gods to permit the youth to return to the upper world for six months in every year. A yearly festival in honor of Adonis was given in the countries bordering on the Mediterranean, and consisted of two parts—a mourning for his departure to the underworld, and a rejoicing for his return to Venus. Adonis is believed to be the sun, and his stay in the upper and lower worlds to represent the changes of winter and summer.