It was Claudius Ptolemaeus, egiptian mathematician, astronomer, geographer and astrologer the founder of the Geocentric Theory, the one that places Earth as the center of the universe. the other planets and celestial beings describing orbits around it. As this theory was replaced later Aristarcus of Samos' heliocentric theory, reformulated by Nicolaus Copernicus in S XVI AD, Ptolemy's most famous work still lasted in time: The "Almagest", a 13 volumes mathematical and astronomical treatise in where he compiled all of his theories about the arrange of celestial beings and stars over the space, according to his original theory, clasification that has lasted even if the basis of it were proved wrong.

It's on the 7th and 8th volumes in where Ptolemy explanis about how he clasifies the stars and constellation, defining 48 constellations and dividing them in two groups of 36 and 12. And it's on the latter group in where we find the Aquarius constellation, the main subject of this fanlisting.

"The Water Bearer" Aquarius is placed in the 11th house of the Ecliptic, imaginary band placed across the sky that traces The Sun cycle according to our perspective from the Earth. Receives it's name thanks to young Ganymede's myth and thanks to Sumerian God An, the one who pours the water of eternal life over humanity, culture that's also responsible for it's discover. It's one of the largest and oldest among the other Zodiac Constellations, covering the 2,3% of the firmament and composed by around 56 visible but dim stars, being β Aqr (Sadalsuud) the brightest among the others.

(Work in Progress)

"Erichthonius begat Tros, king of the Trojans, and Tros had three noble sons, Ilus, Assaracus, and Ganymede who was comeliest of mortal men; wherefore the gods carried him off to be Jove's cupbearer, for his beauty's sake, that he might dwell among the inmortals."
(Homer. The Illiad)

Ganymede or Ganymedes, son of Tros and Callirrhoe, was known as the most beautiful youth that ever existed, and Zeus couldn't resist falling instantly in love with him, overwhelmed by his physical features and extreme beauty. And either turning himself to an eagle or sending an eagle, Zeus abducted the man and transported him to Mount Olympus, serving as the cupearer of the gods and as the lover of the King of Gods. The kidnap, placed on Mount Ida in Phrygia, place in where Ganymede developed shepherding activities, was a sacred place, reason why the ritual of the kidnap was on that certain spot because of the proximity of the place to The Olympus itself.

Ganymede's leaving left affliction and sadness over Tros' heart, who went on untiring searches for his beloved son all over the land. Zeus noticed this, and by sending Tros two present through Hermes, he made him realize his son was no longer a mortal, and that he would be young and beauty forever by the gods' side. As for Ganymede, he was always warmly welcome by almost everybody on The Olympus but Hera and Hebe, wife and the first cupbearer, now being replaced by Ganymede. Jealous of him, both reluctantly complained to Zeus about the man, but instead of following their complains, he gave Ganymede a place in the firmament, giving birth to the Aquarius Constellation.

GANYMEDE'S MOTHERLAND

If there's any famous city in history, Troy must be the most popular among the cities named on Greek Mithology for it's heroes and history. Troy, historical capital of The Troad or Troas, has been silent witness of wars, comptetitions and multiple confrontations, and Homer on his Illiad illustrates the events of the last of ten years the place lasted until its falling and ruin and also the stories of the habitants of the city. Motherland of heroes such as Priam or Hector, of Paris and Troilus, and of course, land of Ganymede, was founded when Dardanus, son of Zeus and Electra, arrived to the anchors of the Anatolian Peninsula, founding Dardani, his grandson Tros replacing Dardanus as the King and renaming the place as "Troia" later on. And it was the son of Tros, Ilus, the founder of Troy itself. Following the predictions of the Oracle, Ilus followed a cow until it stopped, taking the spot in where the cow stopped as the place in where he founded "Ilium", which would be renamed as Troy later on.

GANYMEDE'S KIDNAP

About the kidnap ritual, while mythical king Minos ruled over Crete, he noticed overpopulation over the island, and concerned about this sittuation, he instaured and extended a cult about the kidnap of an adolescent boys, also known as eromenos, by adult men known as erastes, instauring a bond and relationship between them known as Pedestary. The ritual started when the man chosed the adolescent to kidnap, someone who was supposed to put up resistanse against the action, finally taking him to live for a certain amount of time. Sometimes, when this period of time finished, adolescents used to come back home, their families receiving them with presents such as animals or ludic content presents. Ganymede's myth represents this ritual on his kidnap by Zeus, as the arrival to home with the presents The God sent to his father Tros, reflecting how the events on this custom developed.

GANYMEDE ON THE ART

Finally, many artists have represented Ganymede and his tale in art, showing him by Zeus side or riding him on his eagle form. The Trojan prince has been resembled as a calm, pacific adolesent, someone apparently aware of his destiny, with long, blonde curls and a phrygian hat. According to the date of the art pieces, some artists would add a cape to cover his private parts as well. And as his myth has been popular among artists of all times, we can easily find Ganymede on pieces such as pottery and ceramics, mosaics (such as the one found in Paphos), sculptures (Thorwaldsen's Ganymede sculpture displaying a more intimate and sweet scene of the myth in where Ganymede is giving the eagle water to drink) and oils by recognized artists such as Miguel Angel, Rembrandt, Cellini, Maza, Carracci and Rubens.