Notes

Once upon a time, in the ancient lands of Greece, long before water was spilled from glass or plastic, there lived the humble Ganymede. Ganymede was well-liked and beautiful in his ways. He was graceful yet eccentric, smart yet modest, and opinionated yet liked to keep to himself. He was disliked by his father, who had also been a handsome and loved man in his youth.

It came as no surprise to many of the Greek gods when Ganymede caught the attention of Zeus, who was known to admire the intricate creations of man that he came to observe. After a few years living amongst his fellow Greek people, Ganymede’s father was approached by Zeus. Zeus quickly offered the boy’s father an unfathomable number of horses in exchange for the boy. Ganymede’s father cackled to himself, as he would have traded his son for a cup of wine! Again, it came as no surprise to the gods when Ganymede was then met by Zeus disguised in the form of a stunning bird to be swept away.

Ganymede was so used to all the attention he received about his looks that he felt a strange wave of relief upon viewing something more beautiful and unique than himself. Of course, Ganymede had heard of Zeus and his abilities to turn into other things. And while he suspected something was strange about this creature that he had never seen nor heard of during his studies, he climbed on the bird’s back as it knelt and gestured towards him. Ganymede’s suspicions, however, were confirmed when the bird began to fly straight towards the heavens of Olympus!

Upon entering these heavens, Ganymede was immediately set to work by Zeus. Ganymede’s movements were so graceful, however, that Zeus thought it would be disgraceful to have Ganymede doing any hard labor. So, Zeus asked that the boy bear the water for all gods in heavens. Day after day, Ganymede poured wine, juice, and water for all those that invited him and didn’t mind the time he was allowed to rest and be leisurely amongst the great Greek gods.

One day, as Ganymede was pouring an unusually large amphora of wine for the queen of gods, Hera, he noticed a plot of land underneath her room that boasted many horses, galloping within a gated ring.

He recognized the house as his wicked father’s and sought immediate revenge on all who had betrayed him. He took the amphora and began to pour the liquid down onto the land. Hera saw this and smiled to herself. She did not stop Ganymede; her silence, instead, inspired him to pour more.

Ganymede poured and poured.

As he poured, he also wept. He poured the wine; he poured the water; he poured the juices. He cried all over the Grecian hills surrounding his father’s plot of land. Suddenly, the gates that held the horses broke against the weight of the rushing floods. The area was transformed, and Ganymede had nothing left in the amphora. There was now nothing left in any of the jugs or cups in Olympus! In his pain, he had poured all the liquid below.

Upon seeing the floods, Zeus entered Hera’s heavenly chamber and saw Ganymede surrounded by empty water vessels. He was about to reprimand Ganymede when he noticed a familiar look and smile on Hera’s face. Zeus now realized that he had been selfish. Due to Ganymede’s exposed grief, he approached Zeus.

He asked Zeus to send him back to his land to drown in his sadness, to live out the rest of his days in isolation. “I cannot bear to pour one more drop,” Ganymede, the water bearer, said. Zeus had realized the fault in his ways. His sympathy for Ganymede was great, and his love for Hera’s wisdom was grand. And so, Zeus refused Ganymede’s request. Instead, he granted him a great gift of even greater immortal status.

Ganymede became the stars in the sky. The constellation Aquarius is where Ganymede is now. He observes exceptionally, and he gazes restfully at the water pouring out, beautifully with grace, on its own below him.

The End.