the graciously gay greek gazette

zeus and ganymede

     A shepherd sat on Mount Ida, tending to his flock. He caught the eye of Zeus, king of the gods, lover of many. This man was gorgeous, impossibly beautiful.  With bright blue eyes and gentle, auburn curls spilling from his crown like wine from a kylix, and his skin tanned and hands strong, Zeus adored him. Ganymede, son of King Tros of Troy, had become the new apple of Zeus' wandering eye. It was impossible for the god to look away some days. Everything about the shepherd prince was enamouring! His physique, his diminutive stature,  the lightness he had about him -- he was like a star twinkling in the sky.

     Zeus stood atop Mount Olympus and watched Ganymede for some time before he went to see him in person. His bones took the form of those of an eagle and his skin sprouted feathers as he took his sacred animal's shape. From his home to Ganymede's Zeus flew, grabbing the prince by the shoulders and flying him back to where the gods resided in the clouds. The shepherd was, understandably, afraid of his avian captor, and was apprehensive even after Zeus explained his immense love for him. But once Ganymede saw Zeus' true beauty, in his wisened face and stormy eyes, it took him almost no time at all to become comfortable in the god's arms.

     Zeus made Ganymede the gods' cup-bearer as to keep a low profile. Hera, of course, would not approve of the courtship and could never, ever know. During Ganymede's time in Olympus, he grew even closer with his admirer. Ganymede admired Zeus' steely gaze, his muscular build, his salt and pepper hair. The longer the mortal man spent in the land of the gods, the more intimate he and his lover became, and the harder it was to keep their relations a secret.

     On a particularly clear night, after Zeus and Ganymede had finished their electric time alone, Ganymede lay in Zeus' strong arms, content and relaxed. Suddenly, he heard Zeus' voice in his ear. It was booming even when the king was whispering. Zeus explained that he feared Hera would attempt to kill Ganymede, despite him being eternally youthful and immortal thanks to Zeus having given him a job. The queen's jealousy was fatal, and she was not to be trifled with. This Ganymede knew on his own. For his own safety, Zeus would take Ganymede's being and turn it into stars, sending him to the sky with the constellations.

     As much as Ganymede wanted to oppose and stay with Zeus and the rest of the gods on Mount Olympus (but mostly Zeus), he knew the king was right in that Hera did not like the cup-bearer being there. The god and the mortal's loving, across-the-room looks were becoming more frequent, less subtle. Hera had already voiced her suspicions to Astrape and Bronte, Zeus' advisers, but luckily they had sworn to secrecy. 

     They left the luxurious bed they were in, the warmth from the pillows and linen quickly being replaced by the cool marble under their feet. The pair's naked bodies were silhouetted in the nighttime light of the moon. As Zeus lay his hands on Ganymede's shoulders, both men wept for each other, but both knew Zeus had many lovers and would soon replace the young prince. Still, it was no less any painful for Ganymede. He too had known many lovers, but never one so true as this.

     They said their solemn goodbyes, and with one last passionate kiss, Ganymede's body melted into starlight, pooling in Zeus' palms. Mixing with the god's titanium tears, the white hot remains of the cup-bearer mingled with the humid nighttime summer air, lifting to the sky.

     Within minutes, a new figure slipped into he stars: one of a man holding a vase, water pouring out and into the cosmos. Ganymede's memory lived on forever in the heart of Zeus and in the eyes of mortals as Aquarius, the cup-bearer.