Ganymede with Jupiter's Eagle

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In ancient Greek mythology, a stunning young man named Ganymede was spirited away to Mount Olympus, home of the gods, where he would serve as their official connoisseur of fine wines and delicacies. According to legend, Zeus himself, disguised as an eagle, descended upon Phrygia in northwestern Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) to claim the beautiful youth for his divine duties. The dramatic effect of Thorvaldsen's sculpture is primarily achieved through the striking contrast between Ganymede's smooth, unblemished skin and his innocent demeanor, juxtaposed against the rugged, detailed plumage of the eagle, its piercing gaze, and sharp beak. As fate would have it, Ganymede replaced Hebe as the gods' official taster, a position previously held by her, due to her unfortunate mishap with the divine elixir, ambrosia, which granted immortality to the gods. Thorvaldsen crafted this breathtaking group sculpture in 1817 and its beauty has been immortalized through multiple marble reproductions.