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Ganymede (mythology) facts for kids

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This article is about Ganymede (disambiguation)|Ganymede. For other uses, see Ganymede (mythology) (disambiguation).
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Ganymede
Cupbearer to the gods
Bust Ganymede Louvre Ma535.jpg
Roman marble bust depicting Ganymede, dating to the 2nd century, now at the Louvre
Abode Mount Olympus
Parents Tros and Callirhoe or Acallaris
Ganymede Waters Zeus as an Eagle by Thorvaldsen
Ganymede Waters Zeus as an Eagle by Bertel Thorvaldsen (Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN)

In Greek mythology, Ganymede or Ganymedes (Greek: Γανυμήδη, Ganymēdēs) was an extremely handsome youth. Homer said he was the most beautiful of all mortals. He was born a prince of Troy. His parents were King Tros (from whose name "Troy" is derived), and Queen Callirrhoe, daughter of the river god Scamander.

Myth

Zeus went down to Earth in the form of an eagle and took Ganymede up to Mount Olympus. There, Ganymede was made immortal. He served as the cup-bearer of the gods.

In various stories, Zeus later put Ganymede in the sky as the constellation Aquarius (the "water-carrier" or "cup-carrier"), which is adjacent to Aquila (the Eagle). In recognition of the myth, the largest moon of the planet Jupiter (named after Zeus's Roman counterpart) was named Ganymede by the German astronomer Simon Marius.

Images for kids

  • Zeus abducts Ganymede, large terracotta, before 470 BC, AM Olympia, Olym26

    Zeus carrying away Ganymede (Late Archaic terracotta, 480-470 BC)

  • Einführung des Ganymed in den Olymp (van Loo)

    The Induction of Ganymede in Olympus (1768) by van Loo

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ganimedes (mitología) para niños

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