Ganymede

Renaissance panel ceiling by Baldassare Peruzzi entitled "The Rape of Ganymede." ( c. 1509-14). Villa Farnesina, Rome, Italy. Click on image for full size (184K JPEG) Image courtesy of PhotoDisc, Inc. All rights reserved. Images provided by (c) 1995 Fototeca Storica Nazionale.

Ganymede was a son of Tros, who was the ruler of the city of Troy. One day, Jupiter saw Ganymede as he guarded his sheep, and wanted to make the young man the servant of the gods at Olympus. Jupiter changed his shape into that of an eagle, swooped down and carried the boy off to Mount Olympus.

Ganymede became Jupiter's favorite companion. Jupiter placed the eagle into the heavens as the constellation Aquila (eagle), and then Ganymede as the constellation Aquarius (water bearer). One of Jupiter's moons is also named after Ganymede.

Renaissance panel ceiling by Baldassare Peruzzi entitled "The Rape of Ganymede." ( c. 1509-14). Villa Farnesina, Rome, Italy. Click on image for full size (184K JPEG) Image courtesy of PhotoDisc, Inc. All rights reserved. Images provided by (c) 1995 Fototeca Storica Nazionale.

Now it so happens that this position was already filled by Hebe,the daughter of Jupiter and his wife Juno. Once Ganymede arrived at the royal court a competition began between Hebe and Ganymede for the honor of serving the gods. Eventually Ganymede won the post, and stayed on also as the favored companion to Jupiter.

To honor the events surrounding the elevation of Ganymede to "cup bearer and servant of the gods," Jupiter placed the eagle, a shape he assumed when abducting Ganymede to Olympus, into the heavens as the constellation Aquila (eagle), and immortalized Ganymede as the constellation Aquarius (water bearer). One of Jupiter's moons is also named after Ganymede.

Renaissance panel ceiling by Baldassare Peruzzi entitled "The Rape of Ganymede." ( c. 1509-14). Villa Farnesina, Rome, Italy. Click on image for full size (184K JPEG) Image courtesy of PhotoDisc, Inc. All rights reserved. Images provided by (c) 1995 Fototeca Storica Nazionale.

Jupiter thereby changed his shape into that of an eagle, swooped down onto the craggy slopes of Ida, and carried the boy off to Mt. Olympus, home of the gods, to serve as the cup bearer of the gods. Now it so happens that this position was already filled by Hebe, the daughter of Jupiter and his wife Juno. Once Ganymede arrived at the royal court there began a furious competition between Hebe and Ganymede for the honor of serving the gods.

Eventually Ganymede won the post, and stayed on also as the beloved companion to Jupiter. Ganymede's father, Tros, mourned for his son because he did not know what happened. Jupiter felt sorry for him, and gave the father special horses that only gods could ride upon. He also made Hermes explain the entire story, including the honor of becoming immortal.

To honor the events surrounding the elevation of Ganymede to "cup bearer and servant of the gods," Jupiter placed his shape of an eagle, a shape he assumed when abducting Ganymede to Olympus, into the heavens as the constellation Aquila (eagle), and immortalized Ganymede as the constellation Aquarius (water bearer). One of Jupiter's moons is also named after Ganymede.