Renaissance panel ceiling by Baldassare Peruzzi entitled "The Rape of Ganymede." ( c. 1509-14). Villa Farnesina, Rome, Italy.
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Image courtesy of PhotoDisc, Inc. All rights reserved. Images provided by (c) 1995 Fototeca Storica Nazionale.
Ganymede
Ganymede was a son of Tros, who was the ruler of the city of Troy. One day, Jupiter saw Ganymede as he guarded his sheep, and wanted to make the young man the servant of the gods at Olympus.
Jupiter changed his shape into that of an eagle, swooped down and carried the boy off to Mount Olympus.
Ganymede became Jupiter's favorite companion. Jupiter placed the eagle into the heavens as the constellation Aquila (eagle), and then Ganymede as the constellation Aquarius (water bearer). One of Jupiter's moons is also named after Ganymede.
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