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 tended sheep on the slopes of Mount Ida, and suddenly had a strong desire to make the young man the servant of the gods at Olympus. Jupiter changed his shape into that of an eagle, swooped down onto the slopes of Ida, and carried the boy off to Mount 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 Hebe and Ganymede competed with each other for the honor of serving the gods. Eventually Ganymede won the post, and he also became Jupiter's favorite companion. To honor the events surrounding Ganymede becoming the new cup bearer and servant of the gods, Jupiter placed the eagle, a shape he assumed when carrying Ganymede to Olympus, into the heavens as the constellation Aquila (eagle), and then immortalized Ganymede by placing him in the heavens as the constellation Aquarius (water bearer).



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, first king of the classical land known as Troy. One day Jupiter caught a glimpse of the young boy as he was tending sheep on Mt. Ida, and was suddenly overwhelmed with a desire to bring Ganymede to Olympus to serve as the cup bearer of the gods. 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 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).

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, first king of the classical land known as Troy. One day Jupiter caught a glimpse of the handsome young boy as he was tending sheep on Mt. Ida, and was suddenly inflamed with a passion for him. 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. 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).


Last modified prior to September, 2000 by the Windows Team

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