Zeus was gay

It is yet another piece in the history of ancient sexuality, with particular importance for queer history. Now Ganymede was not simply replacing Hebe, but, as Nonnus — the Roman author of Dionnysaica — wrote, he was offending the goddess by pouring Nectar with human hands!

The Greek sources are not really clear on this point. Besides, the gift is in some versions presented by Zeus himself and in others by Hermes. Was Zeus gay according to Greek mythology? In post-Medieval times, his name was given to the largest moon of the planet Jupiter by the Astronomer Simon Marius.

According to the Homeric Hymn To Aphrodite:. At some point, Zeus , the usual suspect in almost every Greek myth related to seduction and rape, decided that Ganymede was too perfect to walk the earth. Zeus did not only abduct Ganymede to serve as a simple cupbearer. Ganymede was an oxherd from the city of Troy and, although none of the sources mentions his age, we are consistently told that he was beautiful and young.

It seems that the Greeks enjoyed retelling myths with slightly altered storylines, a practice that propelled the creative spirit that was expressed through ancient theatre. But why? But they nonetheless imply that Ganymede was abducted by Zeus to serve as his cupbearer and lover.

Zeus transformed himself into or sent an eagle and abducted the unsuspected Ganymede who was brought to Olympus. Today, Ganymede is not only identified with the constellation of Aquarius. Yet, then again, this is a neglectable detail within the context of a story where an eagle abducts a boy to a neverland on top of a mountain where no one ever grows old.

Many of the Greek gods were bisexual. Still, the god understood that he had to offer something to compensate for taking the son away from the family. In any case, Zeus ensured that the father would be happy with the arrangement, even though it is unimaginable that anyone would happily trade their son for two horses or a golden vine.

But there is more. Now the characters of men differ accordingly as they are derived from the original man or the original woman, or the original man-woman. Nerites, brother of all the Nereids, was Poseidon's most emotionally stable relationship, had a spat with Aphrodite whom stole his wings and turned.

Consequently, this myth can be related to ancient Greek pederasty. Zeus also offered to make Ganymede immortal, blessed with eternal youth, serving in the banquets of the gods forever. The job did not come without benefits. His beauty was unparalleled, and for that reason, Zeus abducted and brought him to Olympus to serve as his cupbearer and lover.

Did Zeus have any male lovers?. Then Zeus invented an adjustment of the sexes, which enabled them to marry and go their way to the business of life. The presocratic philosopher Xenophanes famously refuted Homer and Hesiod for anthropomorphizing the gods:. Ganymede, youngest son of the 1st king of Troy, Zeus was smitten by him and sent an eagle to take him off to Olympus, other variations has Zeus as the eagle, and Ganymede was made as the god of homosexual desire and Zeus’s personal cup bearer.

In Greek mythology, Zeus was known to have relationships with both men and women, so he could be considered bisexual rather than gay. However, Euripides and Cicero, wrote that he was the son of Laomedon while there are other later mentions that he was the son of Ilus.

And at the command of Zeus, the Guide, the slayer of Argus, told him all, and how his son would be deathless and unageing, even as the gods. His parents must have been terribly worried. Xenophanes did not believe that this was a par excellence Greek invention, but that all people fashion gods based on their society:.

Ganymede, a beautiful Trojan young man, was aducted by Zeus to serve as his personal cupbearer and lover on mount Olympus among the other gods. Ganymede or Ganymedes was a young man from Troy. Although Zeus is well-known for his multiple affairs, Ganymede is a unique case.

So he is shown as if pouring water from an urn. These he gave him as a gift. This is not the only disagreement among the ancient sources.