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Dec. 23rd, 2019 04:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eaglesweptHomer, Iliad 20. 232 ff (trans. Lattimore) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) :
"Tros, who was lord of the Trojans, and to Tros in turn there were born three sons unfaulted, Ilos (Ilus) and Assarakos (Assaracus) and godlike Ganymedes (Ganymede) who was the loveliest born of the race of mortals, and therefore the gods caught him away to themselves, to be Zeus' wine-pourer, for the sake of his beauty, so he might be among the immortals."
Homeric Hymn 5 to Aphrodite 203 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th - 4th B.C.) :
"Verily wise Zeus carried off golden-haired Ganymedes (Ganymede) because of his beauty, to be amongst the Deathless Ones and pour drink for the gods in the house of Zeus--a wonder to see--, honoured by all the immortals as he draws the red nectar from the golden bowl . . . deathless and unageing, even as the gods."
Theognis, Fragment 1. 1345 (trans. Gerber, Vol. Greek Elegiac) (Greek elegy C6th B.C.) :
"There is some pleasure in loving a youth, since once in fact even [Zeus] the son of Kronos (Cronus), king of the immortals, fell in love with Ganymedes (Ganymede), seized him, carried him off to Olympos (Olympus), and made him divine, keeping the lovely bloom of boyhood."
Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis 1051 ff (trans. Vellacott) (Greek tragedy C5th B.C.) :
"And Dardanos' (Dardanus') child [i.e. his descendant], Ganymede, prince of Phrygia, the dear delight of Zeus' bed, dipped deep the bowl of gold [at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis attended by the gods], filling the cups for wine-offerings."
Callimachus, Epigrams 53 (from A.P. 12. 230) (trans. Mair) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) :
"Yea, by Ganymedes of the fair locks, O Zeus in heaven, thou too hast loved."
Virgil, Aeneid 5. 252 ff (trans. Day-Lewis) (Roman epic C1st B.C.) :
"[Woven into the fabric of a robe was an image of :] Ganymede, hunting on leafy Ida, with his javelin, hunting down swift stags--you could almost see him panting, the nimble boy; he was pictured, too, being snatched up aloft from Ida in the claws of Juppiter's [Zeus'] fast-flying eagle--his aged guardians are raising their impotent hands to heaven, his dogs are furiously barking up at the sky above them."
Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 2. 414 ff (trans. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) :
"[Depicted on a tapestry of Hypsipyle queen of Lemnos :] This part showed the rape on leafy Ida and the famed flight of the boy [Ganymede]; presently he was standing joyfully at the table in heaven, nay, even Jove's [Zeus'] armour-bearer himself [Ares] quaffs the beguiling draught from the Phrygian's ministering hand."
Apuleius, The Golden Ass 6. 24 ff (trans. Walsh) (Roman novel C2nd A.D.) :
"A cup of nectar, the gods' wine, was served to Jupiter [Zeus] by his personal cup-bearer [Ganymede], that well-known country-lad."
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 15. 279 ff :
"There are herdsmen that lie in heavenly beds . . . He that pours wine for Zeus [Ganymedes] was an oxherd, whom high-soaring Zeus for his beauty carried off with tender hands."
Ovid, Metamorphoses 10. 152 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"But now I need a lighter strain, to sing of boys beloved of gods and girls bewitched by lawless fires who paid the price of lust. The King of Heaven (Rex Superum) once was fired with love of Ganymedes Phrygius (the Phrygian), and something was devised that Juppiter [Zeus] would rather be than what he was. Yet no bird would he deign to be but one that had the power to bear his thunderbolts. At once his spurious pinions beat the breeze and off he swept Iliades [Ganymedes of Ilion]; who now, mixing the nectar, waits in heaven above, though Juno [Hera] frowns, and hands the cup to Jove."
Greek Anthology 12.211:
“Go to bright heaven, go carrying the child,
Eagle, keep your twin wings spread wide.
Go holding gentle Ganymede and do not drop
Zeus’ wine-bearer of the sweetest cups.
But be careful not to bloody him with your clawed feet
So that Zeus, upset, won’t hurt you.”
Homer, Iliad 5. 265 ff (trans. Lattimore) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) :
"These [the horses of Aeneias (Aeneas)] are of that strain which Zeus of the wide brows granted once to Tros, recompense for his son Ganymedes (Ganymede), and therefore are the finest of all horses beneath the sun and the daybreak."
Homerica, The Little Iliad Fragment 7 (from Scholiast on Euripides Troades 822) (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or 7th B.C.) :
"The vine which [Zeus] the son of Kronos gave him [Laomedon] as a recompense for his son. It bloomed richly with soft leaves of gold and grape cluseters; Hephaistos (Hephaestus) wrought it and gave it to his father Zeus: and he bestowed it on Laomedon as a price for Ganymedes (Ganymede)."
Homeric Hymn 5 to Aphrodite 203 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th - 4th B.C.) :
"Verily wise Zeus carried off golden-haired Ganymedes (Ganymede) because of his beauty, to be amongst the Deathless Ones and pour drink for the gods in the house of Zeus--a wonder to see--, honoured by all the immortals as he draws the red nectar from the golden bowl. But grief that could not be soothed filled the heart of Tros; for he knew not whither the heaven-sent whirlwind had caught up his dear son, so that he mourned him always, unceasingly, until Zeus pitied him and gave him high-stepping horses such as carry the immortals as recompense for his son. These he gave him as a gift. And at the command of Zeus, the Guide, Argeiphontes [Hermes], told him all, and how his son would be deathless and unageing, even as the gods. So when Tros heard these tidings from Zeus, he no longer kept mourning but rejoiced in his heart and rode joyfully with his storm-footed horses."
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 27. 241 ff :
"All the inhabitants of Olympos (Olympus) were sitting with Zeus in his godwelcoming hall, gathered in full company on golden thrones. As they feasted, fairhair Ganymedes drew delicious nectar from the mixing-bowl and carried it round. For then there was no noise of Akhaian (Achaean) war for the Trojans as once there was, that Hebe with her lovely hair might again mix the cups, and the Trojan cupbearer might be kept apart from the immortals, so as not to hear the fate of his country."
Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 8. 427 ff (trans. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) :
"Now had the Argives burst the gates, had breached the walls of Troy, for boundless was their might; but Ganymedes saw from heaven, and cried, anguished with fear for his own fatherland: ‘O Father Zeus, if of thy seed I am, if at thine best I left far-famous Troy for immortality with deathless Gods, O hear me now, whose soul is anguish-thrilled! I cannot bear to see my fathers' town in flames, my kindred in disastrous strife perishing: bitterer sorrow is there none! Oh, if thine heart is fixed to do this thing, let me be far hence! Less shall be my grief if I behold it not with these mine eyes. That is the depth of horror and of shame to see one's country wrecked by hands of foes.’
With groans and tears so pleaded Ganymede. Then Zeus himself with one vast pall of cloud veiled all the city of Priamos world-renowned; and all the murderous fight was drowned in mist, and like a vanished phantom was the wall in vapours heavy-hung no eye could pierce; and all around crashed thunders, lightnings flamed from heaven . . . Then left they [the Greeks] that far-famous town, and turned from war, in awe of Zeus' threatenings."
Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 14. 324 ff :
"The old man [Antenor of Troy] buried her [Polyxeina who was sacrificed to the ghost of Akhilleus (Achilles)], King Priamos' (Priam's) princess-child, nigh his own house, by Ganymedes' shrine."
Virgil, Aeneid 1. 28 ff (trans. Day-Lewis) (Roman epic C1st B.C.) :
"Her [Hera's] hate for Troy's origin, Ganymede taken and made a favourite [of Zeus]."
Greek Anthology, Antipater 5.77:
Chafed by the beauty of Ganymede, Hera once said
As the spirit-eating goad of jealousy pricked her mind:
“Troy bore a male flame for Zeus; so, then, I shall send
My own fire against Troy- Paris, who brings disaster.
To the sons of Ilium will come, not an eagle, but vultures
To feast, when the Danaans carry off the spoils of their labors!”
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 3. 112 ff (trans. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) :
"Kypris (Cypris) [Aphrodite] set out, and after searching up and down Olympos (Olympus) for her boy [Eros (Love)], found him far away in the fruit-laden orchard of Zeus. With him was Ganymede, whose beauty had so captivated Zeus that he took him up to heaven to live with the immortals. The two lads, who had much in common, were playing with golden knuckle-bones. Eros, the greedy boy, was standing there with a whole handful of them clutched to his breast and a happy flush of mantling his cheeks. Near by sat Ganymede, hunched up, silent and disconsolate with only two left. He threw these for what they were worth in quick succession and was furious when Eros laughed. Of course he lost them both immediately--they joined the rest. So he went off in despair with empty hands and did not notice the goddess's approach. Aphrodite came up to her boy, took his chin in her hand and said: ‘Why this triumphant smile, you rascal? I do believe you won the game unfairly be cheating a beginner.’"
Philostratus the Younger, Imagines 8 (trans. Fairbanks) (Greek rhetorician C3rd A.D.) :
"[Ostensibly a description of an ancient Greek painting depicting a scene from Apollonius' Argonautica :] Boys at Play. The boys who are playing the palace of Zeus are, I suppose, Eros (Love) and Ganymede, if the one may be known by his tiara and the other identified by his bow and his wings. They are playing with dice; and Eros is represented as taunting the other insolently and as shaking the fold of his garment, full as it is of his winnings, while his companion is represented as having lost one of the two dice left to him and as throwing the other no better hope. His cheek is downcast and the glance of his eye, albeit a beautiful eye, indicates by its despondency his vexation."
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 33. 74 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) :
"She [the Kharis Aglaia (Charis Aglaea)] found him [Eros (Love)] on the golden top of Olympos (Olympus), shooting the nectar-drops from a cup [playing cottabus and game in which wine was thrown out of cups at a mark]. Beside him stood Hymenaios (Hymenaeus), his fair-haired playfellow in the dainty game. He had put up as a prize for the victor something clever made by his haughty mother Ourania (Urania) . . . winged Eros had taken and put up a round golden necklace . . . as a prize of victory. A large silver basin stood for their game, and the shooting mark before them was a statue of Hebe shown in the middle pouring the wine. The umpire in the game was Ganymedes (Ganymede), cupbearer of Kronides (Cronides) [Zeus], holding the garland. Lots were cast for the shots of unmixed wine, with varied movements of the fingers: these they held out, these they pressed upon the root of the hand closely joined together. A charming match it was between them . . . [Eros won the contest and] Ganymedes laughing handed the dainty garland to Eros. Quickly he picked up the beautiful necklace and lifted the globe, and kept the two prizes of their cleverdrop game."
Plato, Phaedrus 255 (trans. Fowler) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) :
"[Plato on homosexual desire :] And when his feeling continues and he is nearer to him and embraces him, in gymnastic exercises and at other times of meeting, then the fountain of that stream, which Zeus when he was in love with Ganymede named Himeros (Desire), overflows upon the lover, and some enters into his soul, and some when he is filled flows out again."
These are all taken from here.
no subject
Date: 2020-08-08 11:44 pm (UTC)Here the Curtaines draw, there is discovered Iupiter dandling Ganimed upon his knee, and Mercury lying asleepe.
Iup. Come gentle Ganimed and play with me, I loue thee well, say Iuno what she will.
Gan. I am much better for your worthles loue,
That will not shield me from her shrewith blowes:
To day when as I fild into your cups,
And held the cloath of pleasance whiles you dranke,
She reacht me such a rap for that I spilde,
As made the bloud run downe about mine eares.
Iup. What? dares she strike the darling of my thoughts?
By Saturnes soule, and this earth threatning aire,
That shaken thrise, makes Natures buildings quake,
I vow, if she but once frowne on thee more,
To hang her meteor like twixt heauen and earth,
And bind her hand and foote with golden cordes,
As once I did for harming Hercules.
Gan. Might I but see that pretie sport a foote,
O how would I with Helens brother laugh,
And bring the Gods to wonder at the game:
Sweet Iupiter, if ere I pleasde thine eye,
Or seemed faire walde in with Egles wings,
Grace my immortall beautie with this boone,
And I will spend my time in thy bright armes.
Iup. What ist sweet wagge I should deny thy youth?
Whose face reflects such pleasure to mine eyes,
As I exhal'd with thy fire darting beames,
Haue oft driuen backe the horses of the night.
When as they would haue hal'd thee from my sight:
Sit on my knee, and call for thy content,
Controule proud Fate, and cut the thred of time,
Why are not all the Gods at thy commaund,
And heauen and earth the bounds of thy delight?
Vulcan shall daunce to make thee laughing sport,
And my nine Daughters sing when thou art sad,
From Iunos bird Ile pluck her spotted pride,
To make thee fannes wherewith to coole thy face,
And Venus Swannes shall shed their siluer downe,
To sweeten out the slumbers of thy bed:
Hermes no more shall shew the world his wings,
If that thy fancie in his feathers dwell,
But as this one Ile teare them all from him,
Doe thou but say their colour pleaseth me:
Hold here my little loue these linked gems,
My Iuno ware vpon her marriage day,
Put thou about thy necke my owne sweet heart,
And tricke thy armes and shoulders with my theft.
Gan. I would haue a iewell for mine eare, And a fine brouch to put in my hat, And then Ile hugge with you an hundred times.
Iup. And shall haue Ganimed, if thou wilt be my loue.
Enter Venus.
Venus. I this is it, you can sit toying there,
And playing with that female wanton boy,
Whiles my Æneas wanders on the Seas,
And rests a pray to euery billowes pride.
...
Iup. I will take order for that presently: Hermes awake, and haste to Neptunes realme, Whereas the Wind-god warring now with Fate, Besiege the ofspring of our kingly loynes, Charge him from me to turne his stormie powers, And fetter them in Vulcans sturdie brasse, That durst thus proudly wrong our kinsmans peace. Venus farewell, thy sonne shall be our care: Come Ganimed, we must about this geare.
Exeunt Iupiter cum Ganimed.
no subject
Date: 2020-08-08 11:50 pm (UTC)(since I can't check whether this bit of quoted translation is correct or not, with the play on top of that only being fragmentary.)
Trojan Women - Euripides
Date: 2021-12-31 01:06 pm (UTC)[820] In vain, it seems, you Phrygian boy 1 pacing with dainty step among your golden chalices, do you fill high the cup of Zeus, a lovely service; [825] the land of your birth is being consumed by fire. The shore re-echoes to our cries; and, as a bird bewails its young, [830] so we bewail our husbands or our children, or our old mothers. The dew-fed springs where you bathed, the course where you trained, [835] are now no more; but you beside the throne of Zeus are sitting with a calm, sweet smile upon your fair young face, while the spear of Hellas has destroyed the land of Priam.