Ganymede or Ganymedes (Greek: Γανυμήδης, Ganymēdēs), the most beautiful of mortals in Greek mythology. He was son of Tros of Dardania and Callirrhoe (daughter of the river god Scamander), and his brothers were Ilus and Assaracus. Zeus abducted him to serve as cup-bearer in Olympus and compensated Ganymede's father Tros with a gift of fine horses.Zeus's wife (and sister) Hera regarded Ganymede as a rival for her husband's affection. Since ancient times scholars have argued about the nature of Zeus's love for Ganymede; it is often regarded as a model for the Greek social custom of paiderastía, the (in that time and place) socially acceptable erotic relationship between an adult male and an adolescent male.
Because Zeus either sent an eagle to abduct Ganymede or transformed himself into an eagle in order to abduct Ganymede, Ganymede himself has been strongly associated with eagles. Zeus also at one point put Ganymede in the sky as the constellation Aquarius, which is associated with that of the Eagle (Aquila).
Zeus's wife (and sister) Hera regarded Ganymede as a rival for her husband's affection. Since ancient times scholars have argued about the nature of Zeus's love for Ganymede; it is often regarded as a model for the Greek social custom of paiderastía, the (in that time and place) socially acceptable erotic relationship between an adult male and an adolescent male.