Ganymede

Demigod by descent (son of Tros) — the most beautiful of mortals, carried off to Olympus by Zeus to be the cupbearer of the gods, made deathless and ageless. In compensation his father Tros received the gift of immortal horses (Iliad 5.265-267, 20.231-235). Later tradition fixes the eagle and the homoerotic motif (Hymn to Aphrodite, Pindar, Virgil, Ovid); the constellation Aquarius is his catasterism.

Parentage

• paternal: Tros

Domains

• cupbearing
• beauty

Powers

• Granted immortality and agelessness
• Pour the nectar of the gods on Olympus

Epithets

• οἰνοχόος greek · oinochoos · cultWine-pourer / cupbearer of the gods on Olympus.Hom. Il. 20.234-235; Hymn. Hom. Aphr. 202-206 (primary)
• κάλλιστος grc · kallistos · epithetmost beautiful (of mortal men)Homer, Iliad 20.232-235 (primary)

Relations

• lover: ZeusCarried off by Zeus; cupbearer and beloved of the king of the gods.Hymn. Hom. Aphr. 202-206; Verg. Aen. 5.252-257; Ov. Met. 10.155-161 (primary)

Sources

• existence: Hom. Il. 5.265-267, 20.231-235; Hymn. Hom. Aphr. 202-217; Apollod. 3.12.2; Pind. Ol. 1.43-45; Verg. Aen. 5.252-257; Ov. Met. 10.155-161 (primary)