TRIGGER WARNING: Beauty was seen as a dangerous trait for young men and women alike; most of these myths end in abduction / rape. It is important to note the objectification of these men in this passage; the author makes clear that unwanted sexual attention is an unfortunate consequence of beauty in Greco-Roman mythology.
Qui ephebi formosissimi fuerunt:
Adonis Cinyrae et Smyrnae filius quam Venus amavit.
Endymion Aethlii filius quem Luna amavit.
Ganymedes Erichthonii filius, quem Iovis amavit.
Hyacinthus Oebali filius quem Apollo amavit.
Narcissus Cephisi fluminis filius qui se ipsum amavit.
Atlantius Mercurii et Veneris filius qui hermaphroditus dictus est.
Hylas Thiodamantis filius, quem Hercules amavit.
Chrysippus Pelopis filius, quem Theseus ludis rapuit.
--Hyginus, Fabulae CCLXXI
A list of exceedingly beautiful youths:
Adonis (the son of Cinyras and Smyrna), whom Venus loved.
Endymion (the son of Aethlius), whom the Moon loved.
Ganymede (the son of Erichthonius), whom Jupiter loved.
Hyacinthus (the son of Oebalus), whom Apollo loved.
Narcissus (the son of the Cephissus River), who fell in love with himself.
Atlantius (the son of Mercury and Venus), who is called a "hermaphrodite."
Hylas (the son of Thiodamas), whom Hercules loved.
Chrysippus (the son of Pelops), whom Theseus abducted from the games.
HYGINUS
Name: Gaius Julius Hyginus
Date: 64 BCE – 17 CE
Works: Fabulae*
De Astronomica
REGION 1 / 4*
Hyginus was a freedman of the Roman emperor Augustus who was in charge of the Imperial library on the Palatine Hill in Rome. His work, the Fabulae, are a sourcebook for Greek and Roman myths. Although there is quite a bit of overlap between his writings and his contemporary and friend Ovid's Metamorphoses, Hyginus' works are much more succinct.
* There is evidence that Hyginus was originally from Alexandria, Egypt (Suetonius, de Gramm. 20)
Labels: Apollo, Artemis Diana, Chrysippus, dangerous beauty, Endymion, Ganymede, Greek mythology, Hercules, Hermaphroditus, Hyacinthus, Hyginus, Hylas, Region 1, Region 4, Theseus, TR3 Golden Age Rome, Venus, Zeus Jupiter