SHORT STORIES
ABOUT ZEUS and GANYMEDES
A tale of Herodonte about Love Madness of Zeus
Other crazy things happened to the very Mighty Zeus,
whose
temper is such unpredictable as the lightning that shoot up in a flash
from his hands. So it happened one day that he was wandering by plains
of Troy. The God of the Thunder glanced at the naked beauty of a very
young warrior, that was named Ganymedes. This old name just mean "that
who rejoices virility". And do not begin asking me questions about the
meaning of phrase. This young man was a son of the king Tros. Of whom
they say he was the very founder of Troy.
Inflamed by a sudden passion, Zeus was
approaching carefully. And, fearing of frightening the young man, he
disguised himself with eagle's feathers to hide the glaring image of
his body. The young boy was stunned by the unusual sight of the
mysterious eagle; so he remained motionless and relaxed, almost
melting, in the presence of the unknown god. Zeus approached and took
him in his arms. Then traveling by the ether's spaces, he carried the
boy to a secret cavern in the Olympus. Once there Zeus let the young
man softly on the floor, then he took out the feathers of his disguise
and appeared before him showing all his naked and shining muscles. The
young man was already very soft after all the travel across the ether
but most of all for the heat that was irradiating from the divine body
of the god.
What happened in the cavern? Even the poets
have ever dared to tell us any word or details about this event. You
only need to know that Zeus was so pleased with the boy that he made
him immortal. This way the boy was going to remain young forever and
ever. And it would never appear in his face any beard at all. So he
would never had to pass through the obliged stages of maturity, old
age, pain and death.
The Virtue of the Modesty did not like the
idea of having a young man for so long unemployed in the Olympus. So
she gave him the office charge of filling with wine the goblets of the
gods. In this way we can see Ganymedes painted in such an office; so we
have not any need to draw him in unseemly positions on the fine Attic
dishes. That is why you all have seen all those fine plates and bowls
that show the young ephebe pouring wine in the goblets of the gods.
The father of the young warrior was very upset with the
loss
of his son and Zeus felt pity for him. Then he sent a message by means
of Ares, a young god very well suited for a telltale. The God of
Thunder sent him a golden vine full of hanging clusters of grapes and
innumerable leaves. And the golden vine and bunches of grapes were all
made of pure solid gold. This masterpiece was made by Hefaistos; the
Olympian smith at the request of Zeus.
It seemed to Zeus not enough of a gift then he
added two precious proud stallions that never rested quite but were
continually rearing up. These were stallions of a very rare coat; as
they had not the slightest dark spot on them and were as white as snow.
The divine messenger told the king that his son
was happy and immortal, and highly priced by his beauty. In this very
sense he is well compared to the goddesses. Also he told that his son
was serving in the Olympus pouring wine in the goblets of the gods.
Goblets, all you know, that are made with the most pure and shining
gold of the world.
With these words full of wisdom and sweetness,
Herondonte ended his tale. After a while, our host made a sign with his
hand and then they entered the dancers and the flutists. And we all
were ready to enjoy the best music of the island.
This is a fragment from Afrodisia
Author: Leopoldo Perdomo
|