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Ganymede, a MythSource painting
Greek

Ganymede

The Trojan Prince · The Cupbearer of the Gods · The Beloved of Zeus

01Identity

Ganymede in Greek tradition

Zeus takes Ganymede from the Trojan plain in eagle form, after choosing him for his beauty. Ganymede is a Trojan prince who becomes the gods’ cupbearer, serving nectar with a golden bowl. Zeus grants him immortality and freedom from old age, then places his image among the stars as Aquarius. Ganymede is the Greek name, while Catamitus is its Roman Latinised form.

Top questions

The quick answers

  • Who is Ganymede?

    Ganymede is a Greek being associated with divine cupbearing; nectar and ambrosia service; youthful beauty; male same-sex love; and immortality and eternal youth.
    Source

    Source

    • The Greek Myths
    • The Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics)

  • What is Ganymede associated with?

    Ganymede is associated with divine cupbearing; nectar and ambrosia service; youthful beauty; male same-sex love; and immortality and eternal youth.
    Source

    Source

    • The Greek Myths
    • The Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics)

  • What family links are recorded for Ganymede?

    Father: Tros, Mother: Callirhoe, 2 siblings.

  • What happens in The Abduction of Ganymede?

    An eagle carried Ganymede from his father’s flocks to Olympus, where Zeus made him immortal and installed him as the gods’ cupbearer.
    Source

    Source

    • Apollodorus, The Library
    • The Greek Myths
    • The Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics)
02Family

Ganymede’s family, at a glance

TrosCallirhoe
GanymedeAssaracusIlus
03The names

The names Ganymede answers to

Ganymedes

Ancient Greek form of Ganymede’s name

SourceThe Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics)

Catamitus

Roman Latinized form of Ganymede’s name

SourceThe Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics)

The Cupbearer

The divine servant who poured nectar for the gods

SourceThe Greek Myths

The Trojan Prince

Prince of Troy and son of King Tros

SourceThe Greek Myths

The Water-Bearer

Mythological identification with the constellation Aquarius

SourceThe Greek Myths

04The myths

The myths of Ganymede

3 myths, with sources recorded for each, with 1 reviewed modern rework linked where the evidence supports it.

Ganymede Becomes the Gods’ Cupbearer

Zeus took Ganymede from the Trojan plain in the form of an eagle. One account names Ganymede as the son of King Tros, who gave his name to Troy. It also calls him the most beautiful youth alive. Another account says that Zeus seized him from among his companions on Mount Ida and carried him to Olympus.

Zeus appointed Ganymede cupbearer to the gods, replacing Hebe, the daughter of Hera and goddess of youth. Ganymede became immortal and was no longer subject to old age. He held a golden bowl and served nectar to the gods and to Zeus, the Father of Heaven.

To compensate Tros for the loss of his son, Hermes gave him a golden vine made by Hephaestus and two fine horses. Hermes also told him that Ganymede had become immortal. Some accounts say that Zeus gave Tros immortal horses instead and do not mention the vine.

Hera mourned the insult to herself and to Hebe, who had held the office before Ganymede. Her anger vexed Zeus. He placed Ganymede’s image among the stars as Aquarius, the water-carrier. Some traditions say that Eos first took Ganymede as her lover, and that Zeus took him from her.

Ganymede Becomes the Gods’ Cupbearer, a MythSource painting of the scene

3 sources· checked 2026-08-18

  1. 1The Greek MythsT1
  2. 2Apollodorus, The LibraryT1

    Quote

    “Zeus took Ganymede to Olympus, made him immortal, and set him among the stars as Aquarius after appointing him cupbearer to the gods.”

    Apollodorus, The Library

  3. 3The Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics)T1

The Abduction of Ganymede

As Ganymede tended his father’s flocks on the Trojan plain, Zeus carried him away in the form of an eagle. Ganymede was the son of King Tros, who gave his name to Troy, and was said to be the most beautiful youth alive. Zeus took him to Olympus and made him immortal. Ganymede then became cupbearer to the gods and poured nectar for Zeus from a golden bowl.

Hermes came to Tros on Zeus’s behalf. He gave the king a golden vine made by Hephaestus and two fine horses as compensation for the loss of his son. Hermes also assured Tros that Ganymede was no longer subject to old age or its hardships. Ganymede had left mortal life and now served among the gods.

Hera deplored the abduction and the insult to herself. She also resented the replacement of her daughter Hebe, who had previously served as cupbearer to the gods. Her anger did not restore Hebe’s office. It vexed Zeus, who placed Ganymede’s image among the stars as Aquarius, the water-carrier.

The accounts differ in some details. One says that Eos first abducted Ganymede as her lover, before Zeus took him from her. Another says that Hebe left the office after marrying Heracles. A further account says that Hebe was dismissed after falling while serving the gods, and that Zeus took Ganymede from among his companions on Mount Ida to replace her. Earlier accounts do not include the eagle. The idea that Ganymede became Zeus’s beloved appears in later sources.

The Abduction of Ganymede, a MythSource painting of the scene

In the modern world

The Rape of Ganymede

Film

Zeus's abduction of Ganymede up to Olympus, restaged (in a comedic, queer register) as the true story behind the myth.

3 sources· checked 2026-08-18

  1. 1The Greek MythsT1
  2. 2Apollodorus, The LibraryT1

    Quote

    “Zeus seized Ganymede in an eagle’s form, carried him to Olympus, and gave Tros gifts to replace the son who had become immortal cupbearer to the gods.”

    Apollodorus, The Library

  3. 3The Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics)T1

Ganymede Among the Stars

Zeus disguised himself in eagle’s feathers and carried Ganymede away from the Trojan plain. Ganymede was the son of King Tros, who had given his name to Troy. He was said to be the most beautiful youth alive. Zeus chose him to serve as cup-bearer to the gods, and desired him as his bedfellow.

Hermes then came to Tros on Zeus’s behalf. He gave the king a golden vine made by Hephaestus, together with two fine horses, to compensate him for the loss of his son. Hermes assured Tros that Ganymede had become immortal and would not suffer old age. Ganymede now stood beside Zeus with a golden bowl, serving bright nectar to the Father of Heaven.

Hera deplored the insult to herself and to her daughter Hebe, who had been the gods’ cup-bearer before Ganymede. Her anger did not restore Hebe’s office. It only vexed Zeus. He placed Ganymede’s image among the stars, where he became Aquarius, the water-bearer.

Some accounts say that Eos abducted Ganymede first as her lover, and that Zeus took him from her. Other early accounts do not include the eagle or any claim that Ganymede was Zeus’s beloved. A separate account says that Hebe lost her office after falling while attending the gods, while the usual story says that she resigned when she became the wife of Heracles.

Ganymede Among the Stars, a MythSource painting of the scene

2 sources· checked 2026-08-18

  1. 1The Greek MythsT1
  2. 2Ovid, MetamorphosesT1

    Quote

    “Zeus carried Ganymede away in an eagle’s guise, made him immortal cupbearer to the gods, and placed his image among the stars as Aquarius.”

    Ovid, Metamorphoses

Also mentioned in

Stories elsewhere on MythSource that mention Ganymede, each on that figure’s page.