The abduction of Ganymede

Homer referred to Ganymede as "the most gorgeous of mortals." Zeus fell in love with him after catching his sight. Zeus disguised himself as an eagle and kidnapped Ganymede from Mount Ida, bringing him to Mount Olympus, where Zeus ruled as king of the gods. At Olympus, Zeus bestowed eternal youth and immortality upon Ganymede, as well as the role of cup-bearer to the gods. Later, Zeus created the constellation Aquarius (the "water-carrier" or "cup-carrier") to honor Ganymede. In the 17th century, the German astronomer Simon Marius called one of Jupiter's moons Ganymede. Ganymede was kidnapped by Zeus for more than just serving as a cupbearer. On this point, the Greek sources are a little hazy. Nonetheless, they claim that Zeus kidnapped Ganymede to serve as his cupbearer and lover. Ganymede is expressly shown as Zeus' amorous companion in later Roman literature.

According to the Hymn, Zeus took care to inform Ganymede's father that his son had been granted immortality and was now wandering among the gods. Even yet, the god realized that he needed to make a sacrifice to make up for taking the kid away from his family. Although Zeus bestows two incomparably beautiful horses upon Ganymede's father, other accounts indicate a golden vine. Furthermore, the gift is given by Zeus himself in some tales and by Hermes in others.