Ganymede in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Ganymede

10 passages from 8 ancient authors that tell of Ganymede, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Ganymede was a Trojan prince in Greek mythology, known for his beauty. He was the son of the king Tros of Dardania, after whom Troy took its name, and... For the story in one place, read our article on Ganymede.

Apollodorus (1)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 3.12.1–7Dardanus, Priam and the royal house of TroyElectra's son Dardanus founds the line of the Trojan kings through Erichthonius and Tros, to Ganymede, Anchises and Ilus. Ilus founds Ilium on the spot where the cow lies down and receives the Palladium, and Laomedon and Priam follow him, with Tithonus and Memnon among Laomedon's line. The section lists Priam's children, including Hecuba's dream before Paris's birth, Cassandra's gift, and Paris and Oenone, and ends with the sons of Aeacus, Peleus and Telamon, the murder of Phocus and the birth of Ajax and Teucer.

Pindar (1)

Pindar, Olympian Odes 10.1–105Olympian 10: for Hagesidamus — Heracles and the first Olympic gamesPindar owes Hagesidamus of Locri a song for his boxing victory and praises the Western Locrians and the trainer Ilas, whom he likens to Achilles beside Patroclus. He tells how Heracles killed the Molionidae and punished Augeas, then founded the Olympic games beside the tomb of Pelops, with altars to the gods and the naming of the hill of Cronus. He lists the first winners and compares the victor to Ganymede.

Euripides (1)

Euripides, Cyclops 576–623Fourth episode: the Cyclops carries off SilenusThe Cyclops, reeling with wine, takes Silenus for Ganymede and drags him inside, while Silenus protests. Odysseus tells the satyrs that the Cyclops is sunk in slumber and the brand is already smoking in the cave. He prays to Hephaestus and Sleep, and the Chorus longs to see Bromius again.

Apollonius Rhodius (1)

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 3.1–166Hera and Athena ask Cypris to make Medea love JasonThe poet calls on Erato, and Hera and Athena decide to go to Cypris to ask her to make Aeetes' daughter Medea fall in love with Jason. Cypris finds her son Eros playing dice with Ganymede, and persuades him with the promise of a ball that once belonged to Zeus.

Ovid (1)

Ovid, Metamorphoses 10.143–219Ganymede and HyacinthusOrpheus sings of the love of Zeus (Jupiter) for Ganymede, whom the god carries off to heaven as an eagle to be his cup-bearer. He then sings of Apollo's love for Hyacinthus, with whom he plays at quoits, until the discus, thrown by Apollo and deflected by the wind, strikes the boy on the head and kills him. Apollo, unable to restore him, makes a flower grow from his blood, marked with the letters of his grief.

Pausanias (1)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 5.24.1–11Olympia: more images of Zeus and the Zeus of Oaths in the Council HousePausanias lists further images of Zeus in the Altis, among them gifts of the Corinthians, Thessalians, Psophidians, Lacedaemonians and Elaeans, a Zeus by Mummius, and the largest bronze Zeus, given by the Eleans. He describes the Zeus of Oaths in the Council House, beside which athletes, trainers and officials swear on the pieces of a boar, and compares Homer’s account of Agamemnon’s oath.

Quintus Smyrnaeus (1)

Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 8.395–504Zeus veils TroyThe Trojans man the towers and Meriones shoots Phylodamas. The Argives are nearly through the gates when Ganymede, from Olympus, begs Zeus to save the city, and Zeus covers Troy in cloud. The Argives draw back to the ships and praise Neoptolemus.

Nonnus of Panopolis (3)

Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 25.380–480Book 25: The shield of Dionysos: the heavens, Thebes, Ganymede and TylosDionysos rejoins the Bacchants with the new shield, and the poet describes its scenes: earth, sea and the constellations, the building of Thebes to Amphion's lyre, and Ganymede carried off by the eagle. It also shows the Lydian story of Tylos, killed by a serpent on the bank of the Hermos.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 39.0–129Book 39: The fleet arrives; Deriades and Dionysos address their menThe ships built by the Rhadamanes arrive, and Deriades, alarmed but defiant, calls up a fleet from his islands. He argues that Dionysos is no god, since a son of Zeus would not fight with leaves and fawnskin. Dionysos answers by naming his allies in the sea and among the winds, and tells his captains to attack before the Indians can use fire against the ships.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 19.158–262Book 19: Seilenos and Maron contend for the golden bowlMaron and Seilenos rise to dance for the great bowl. Maron addresses the spirit of Staphylos and mimes the cupbearing of Hebe and Ganymede to the gods. Seilenos mimes a contest between Dionysos and Aristaios, in which the gods judge Dionysos' wine better than Aristaios' honey drink.