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Many of the Greek gods were bisexual. Did Zeus have any male lovers?

cmw
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2 Answers2

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It seems there is only one: Ganymede.

I've consulted these sources for a list of Zeus' lovers:

Here are his lovers, in alphabetical order:

  • Aegina, a nymph
  • Alcmene, princess of Mycenae by whom Zeus fathered Heracles
  • Callisto, a nymph
  • Danaë, princess of Argos by whom Zeus fathered Perseus
  • Demeter, goddess of the harvest
  • Dione, a Titaness
  • Electra, princess of Mycenae
  • Eurynome, an Oceanide and Zeus' third bride, mother of the Charities
  • Europa, a Phoenician woman
  • Ganymede, Trojan hero
  • Hera, Zeus' sister and first wife
  • Io, a priestess of Hera in Argos
  • Leda, a Spartan queen
  • Leto, Titan goddess of motherhood
  • Maia, one of the Pleiades
  • Metis, a Titaness
  • Mnemosyne, Titan goddess of time, and mother with Zeus of the Nine Muses
  • Nemesis, goddess of revenge
  • Persephone, Zeus' daughter
  • Semele, princess of Thebes by whom Zeus fathered Dionysus
  • Taygete, a nymph and one of the Pleiades
  • Themis, Titan goddess of law

Again, Ganymede is the only male on this list. But given Zeus' romantic eclecticism, it's probably safe to assume he's not the only actual male lover. The earliest version of the myth (in the Iliad) doesn't claim they were lovers, however.

Mr. Bultitude
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While the vast majority of Zeus's lovers were female, one of Zeus's lovers was the mortal Ganymede.

Ganymede is noted as the only one of Zeus's lovers to whom he granted immortality.

Robert Longson
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