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| The Abduction of Ganymede (Eustache Le Sueur, c. 1650) |
Jupiter’s largest moon was named after the legendary Ganymede, an exquisite-looking young male mortal who was captured by Zeus, king of the ancient Greek gods. Let’s just say that Zeus wanted Ganymede for his very own.
This so-called precedent became associated with an acceptance of pederasty, defined by Wikipedia as “a socially acknowledged romantic relationship between an adult male… and a younger male…. usually in his teens.”
Why Jupiter’s moon was named after the abducted youth is anyone’s guess. But it seems analogous that this moon is being gravitationally held captive by the king of our solar system in a similar fashion to Ganymede’s fabled plight.
The name “Ganymede” has recently been at the forefront once again. Photos from NASA’s Juno flyby are set to arrive back on Earth this week. They will reveal details about the giant moon that have never been known to humans before. Hopefully, people will treat Ganymede better than Zeus once did.
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Copyright June 8, 2021 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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