Let's learn some stuff about the greeks!
You know, I am really loving some of these Gender & Sexuality in Ancient Greece Readings. I am particularly fond of a dialogue between Zeus and Ganymede that goes a little something like this. (I am paraphrasing, but this is actually the dialogue distilled into its most pure form.)
Zeus: Hello! I have kidnapped you so that you will serve as my ( Read more... )
Zeus: Hello! I have kidnapped you so that you will serve as my ( Read more... )
The Works of Lucian Dialogues of the Gods
Zeus and Ganymede
Zeus
Come now, Ganymede. We’ve got there, so you can give me a kiss right away, and you’ll know I’ve no crooked beak now, or sharp claws or wings, as you thought when you took me for a bird.
Ganymede
Mister man, weren’t you an eagle just now? Didn’t you swoop down, and carry me away from the middle of my flock? How, then, have your feathers moulted? You look quite different now.
Zeus
It’s no man you see here, my lad, nor eagle either. No, I’m the king of all the gods, but I’ve changed my shape for the moment.
Ganymede
What’s that? Are you Pan himself? How is it, then, you’ve no pipe or horns or shaggy legs?
Zeus
Is he your only god?
Ganymede
Yes, and we sacrifice one of our best billies to him, taking it to the cave where he has his statue. But you’re just a kidnapper, if you ask me.
Zeus
Tell me, have you never heard the name of Zeus? Never seen his altar on Gargaron-the one who sends rain, thunder and lightning?
Ganymede
Oh, sir, do you mean you’re the one that poured down that tremendous hailstorm on us the other day, the one they say lives up top and makes all the noise, the one my father sacrificed the ram to? What harm have I done you, mister king of the gods, that you’ve carried me off up here? Perhaps the wolves will fall on my sheep now that they’re unprotected, and tear them to pieces.
Zeus
What? Still worrying about your sheep? You’re an immortal now and will be living up here with us.
Ganymede
What’s that? Won’t you be taking me back to Ida today?
Zeus
Of course not. That would mean I’d changed from god to eagle all for nothing.
Ganymede
Then my daddy will be looking everywhere for me and getting cross if he doesn’t find me, and I’ll get a thrashing by and by for leaving my flock.
Zeus
How so? Will he see you?
Ganymede
Please don’t go on with it, for I miss him already. If only you take me back, I promise you you’ll get another ram from him, sacrificed as my ransom. We have the three-year-old one, the big one that leads the way to the pasture.
Zeus
How simple the child is, how innocent he is! Still just a child, that’s what he is. Look here, Ganymede, you can say good-bye to all those things and forget all about them-about your flock and about Ida. You’re one of heaven’s company now, and can do a lot of good to your father and country from here. Instead of your cheese and milk, you’ll have ambrosia to eat and nectar to drink, only you’ll have to serve the nectar to the rest of us too with your own fair hand. And most important of all, you won’t be human any more, but immortal, and I’ll make your own star-the prettiest one shining in the sky-and you’ll enjoy perfect happiness.
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Okay, the translation itself is a little insane too. I'm pretty sure Mister Man is not a direct translation from the Latin.
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