Roof van Ganymedes 1740

This print of “Roof van Ganymedes” was created by Nicolas de Beauvais, an 18th-century French artist. It depicts a scene from classical mythology: the abduction of Ganymede by Zeus. The story goes that Ganymede, a young Trojan prince, was so beautiful that Zeus transformed himself into an eagle to kidnap him and bring him to Mount Olympus, where he would serve as cupbearer to the gods. What does it mean to take a young man and cast him in the role of servant? Ganymede’s abduction and forced servitude speaks to issues of power, desire, and exploitation. The print renders Ganymede as a passive, almost reluctant figure in the grasp of Zeus. De Beauvais’s print, through its depiction of mythological abduction, gives us an opportunity to reflect on the complex interplay of beauty, power, and vulnerability. It speaks to the darker sides of desire and dominance in human history and myth.