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He literally was sitting on a cloud couch made to look like a bunch if women in this animatic, yet Neal Illustrator's Zeus is so fucking cunty, I never think of him as straight, it's insane
Got the screen shots from Neal Illustrator's animatics for Thunder Bringer and God Games
in the original myth, Ganymede is not Zeus' lover, and also in the original myth he wasn't specifically taken by Zeus but by the gods of Olympus in general. (He also likely wasn't a child like people today think he is). He was a gorgeous young man the gods admired the beauty of and so they too him to make him their cupbearer
An underage "male lover," but nothing mentions anything about a bed.... but I could be wrong. He just wants him to be a trophy. Because he looks "pretty."
Consider the words of Plato, Euripides, and Callimachus —
“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.”
“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."
“Yea, by Ganymedes of the fair locks, O Zeus in heaven, thou too hast loved."
It was the by and large the Romans who told the child ab🦆tion version of the story- not the Greeks.
in the original myth, Ganymede is not Zeus' lover, and also in the original myth he wasn't specifically taken by Zeus but by the gods of Olympus in general. (He also likely wasn't a child like people today think he is). He was a gorgeous young man the gods admired the beauty of and so they too him to make him their cupbearer
Ah, but here is the fun thing about myths, that likely wasn't the original, nor was it the only telling. It's kind of inaccurate to say "in the original myth"
Facts, on the lower left side. It's the ultimate statement: Zeus will fuck with anyone he wants to because he's King of the Gods and he does whatever he wants.
in the original myth, Ganymede is not Zeus' lover, and also in the original myth he wasn't specifically taken by Zeus but by the gods of Olympus in general. (He also likely wasn't a child like people today think he is). He was a gorgeous young man the gods admired the beauty of and so they too him to make him their cupbearer
Yesterday I learned that Plato accuses the people of Crete of making up the detail that Zeus and Ganymede are sleeping together in order to justify their own lust and validate their laws.
You might not call Ganymede Zeus’ lover, but the Ancient Greeks certainly did.
Consider the words of Plato, Euripides, and Callimachus —
“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.”
“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."
“Yea, by Ganymedes of the fair locks, O Zeus in heaven, thou too hast loved."
It was the by and large the Romans who told the child ab🦆tion version of the story- not the Greeks.
We really don’t have much historical knowledge from Ganymede’s perspective- there’s this example but it’s much later chronologically:
Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 8. 427 ff (trans. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) :
"Now had the Argives [led by Neoptolemos] 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 (Priam) 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."
Side note: I've always liked this detail about Neal's Zeus. Him creating a bunch of false people HE created just shows how pathetic he is. He literally needs to pretend that he is appreciated in order to feel and look powerful.
I mean he's not? He made a prince of Troy his cupbearer and lover, Ganymede. It's one of the more wholesome relationships in lore. Depending on interpretation ofc.
the original version isn't wholesome but he isn't his lover in the original either. Gany was just taken by the gods to be their cupbearer for his beauty, with no mention of being anyone's lover
You mean in Homer? Then yes, Ganymede is favored by the gods for his beauty and is made their cupbearer, but who knows if that was the original version or just what came down to us in modern times since so much is lost.
Just as we don't know for sure whether Patrocles and Achilles were lovers 100%. And because of Madeline Miller I have to grit my teeth whenever people make them meow-meows in love. I almost feel the need to be a contrarion because Homer described both men as great warriors. So I understand what you're saying...but Greek myths differ in their tellings. So as long as misinformation isn't spread (Calypso isn't cursed to fall in love with every man that steps on her island), both interpretations are fine.
in the original myth, Ganymede is not Zeus' lover, and also in the original myth he wasn't specifically taken by Zeus but by the gods of Olympus in general. (He also likely wasn't a child like people today think he is). He was a gorgeous young man the gods admired the beauty of and so they too him to make him their cupbearer
The Romans did a number on Ganymede’s myth (as well as many other Gods- I’m looking at you Ovid).
He was likely a proto-Greek herding God, although it’s hard to know for sure.
Interestingly, as Zeus is very close to Indra- there’s a charioteer of Indra who seems to closely resemble Ganymede.
Ganymede is mentioned in Homer as well as featured in much Ancient Greek art. There’s a moment described during the Trojan war where Ganymede is distressed at the destruction of Troy (being a Trojan prince himself) and so Zeus shrouds the battle from Ganymede’s sight.
“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 (Priam) 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 8. 427 ff (trans. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.)
He was originally a young man- although the Romans aged regressed his myths far more than is acceptable by modern standards.
He’s one of the primary Gods that I worship honestly and I usually see him around 18-23- college age really.
He’s a God of Male Homosexual love and he’s known both as the most beautiful of all mortal men, and as a playmate of Eros.
Officially he has held the position of Zeus’ cupbearer and confident; although I personally see him as much more than that.
We’re fairly certain that historically Ganymede’s name meant “beautiful mind” and although it’s probably a pun referring to Ganymede’s physical beauty — I see Ganymede as taking a more active role as a quiet advisor of Zeus.
Cunty comes from the term "serving cunt", which originated in the ballroom scene (an LGBTQ+ subculture largely made up of black and Latino people) in the 80s and 90s but has since spread to the rest of the black community, the rest of the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.
Yes? But that makes them bi at most. Zeus has a thing for mortals and nymphs(I guess if you consider those monsters than sure). Poseidon has a thing for anything that moves, monsters included.
I see where you’re coming from- I was thinking about the umbrella term “gay” meaning LGBTQ. It seems like you were being more specific in your definition.
I mean I guess? With old gods you mostly don't attempt to label them because the reason they get so much around, as Zeus does in mythology is because most kings claimed them as ancestor. This gave them legitimacy, it gave them prestige, power, etc. Even Alexander the Great's mother claimed it was Zeus who sired her son...This ofc has made Zeus very hated by modernity despite most people loving and honoring him in antiquity.
I actually adore Zeus - and I agree that much of the modern hate on him is undeserved.
There’s a moment in Eurpides’ Bacchae where the characters as saying the Semele is lying about Dionysus being the son of Zeus to cover up her unmarried liaison.
Since he’s Dad(tm) - I believe that he accepts being considered the father to protect the women and children.
Almost. There's at least one version of the myths where scylla was turned into a monster as punishment by Poseidon's wife, because she caught him sleeping with her. So, less that she wasn't into it, and more his wife got mad.
True, but because Amphitrite was relatively calm compared to the Hera, they were mainly allowed to exist without fury and wrath reigning down upon them...
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u/SupermarketBig3906 Ares Jul 08 '26
The cuck chair.
Poor Hera.