Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:07:13 -0600
From: dnrock@rock.com
Subject: Russell The Red 15

Russell The Red
by dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)


15:   Paidi Nisi Adventures Continued

Author's Note: In this chapter I have included some scholarship.  These
paragraphs are marked by square brackets [ ].  The reader is invited to
read them if interested.  The longer passages are at the end of the
chapter.

For ceremonial meetings of the society, everyone is dressed in very brief
and revealing white togas and laurel wreaths are placed on their heads.
These togas are shorter then the ones described earlier.  For bathing or
just using the place, the men and boys are naked.  The pubescent boys are
encouraged to shave or remove any non head body hair.  The men must either
be clean shaven or have beards that are well trimmed and long enough to be
soft.  Except for a few moustaches, the men are all clean shaven. Most of
the men trim their pubic hair, shave their butts and scrotums and some
their whole bodies.

Following the induction ceremony, there will be one hell of an orgy.  This
is one of the few non meal times the boys are allowed to drink wine or
beer, but only in moderation.  The supplicants or new members are fitted
with special butt plugs, that swell with the body heat and dispense special
pharmaceuticals, to stimulate pleasure and desire, as are all the regular
members.  In addition, the pubescent and older males are fitted with
triangular shaped cock and scrotum rings.

There are only two kinds of ceremony, induction and pledging.  Pledging is
the declaration of a youth and man as lovers, as a man and boy couple.  The
boy pledges to refrain from sex with any other man and the man pledges to
refrain from sex with any other boy.  Notice refrain, not eliminate.  In a
tight little society like this, group fidelity is paramount to couple
fidelity.  They are expected to put on a demonstration of their love and
following that, during the orgy, a demonstration of their pledged fidelity.

Tonight it is the induction of two boys.  Technically Kos is a man since he
is over 18, but since the rules are the same for both boys and men, no
distinction will be made.  After preparation in the vestibule, everyone
troops into the hall.  Russ and Kos are surrounded by the others and are
invited to approach the shrine.  With everyone chanting a welcome to our
brotherhood, each supplicant kisses the phallus and receives his laurel
wreath.  When they kiss the phallus, it quirts a precum tasting liquid into
their mouths.  This liquid contains several plant extracts.  They then sit
on high tripod stools, facing the audience.

Thanos and Dem, acting as priests, give a brief sermon about the goals and
nature of the society, allowing the drugs to take effect.  They are
reminded they do not worship Apollo but honour what he represents.  They do
worship the phallus and the ideals of masculinity and male bonding.  That
they were striving for something much greater than pleasure or the
satisfaction of lust.  The men see membership as a duty to the boys, in
preparing them to take their place in society, as men.  Boys have an
obligation to learn from the men and when they become men, teach those
lessons to boys.  They are reminded of the strict secrecy connected with
membership and each given their ring.  Membership is totally voluntary and
the member can resign but his vow of silence remains for ever.

A few words about the new Ganymede/Zeus shrine/statue/temple were spoken.
Professor Albrech added a few words about the Ganymede Society, that Russ
and Kos already belong to and how appropriate this ceremony is for them and
all in attendance, that honouring of ideals are one in the same, between
the Apollos and the Ganymedes.

Two padded benches are positioned in the centre of the floor and each new
member is welcomed, one at a time by the others.  This welcoming involves
much kissing, hugging, fondling and the removal of the toga and butt plug.
Then everyone else gets naked and the orgy begins.  The goal is for every
existing member to welcome every new member by having some kind of sexual
interaction with them.

The old members divide themselves around the two supplicants. The brothers
stand by Russ and most of the older men by Kos.  By now the drugs have
taken full effect.  The attendants cover the inductee's and each other's
bodies with scented olive oil.  One penetrates the anus with lubricant,
followed by his phallus, another his mouth and a third delivers oral
pleasure, to his genitals, while the others move around giving
encouragement and stimulation to those delivering pleasure.  As soon as one
of the pleasure givers ejaculates, he is replaced by a spare, after each
one has ejaculated the teams rotate.  The cock rings keep the members'
members rock hard and ready for action.  Once each new member has been
fucked six times, the group reassembles for some refreshments and in some
cases mild stimulants; and as much additional sex as they are capable of.
After the refreshments, couples and threesomes form and reform until spent.

Except for the younger boys, who are not small, this is one hung and
physically fit group.  The younger boys are good sized for young boys but
they still have lots of growing to do.  Dem has calculated the individual
mass of the males (not young boys) on this island is about equal,
independent of length.  He assumed an average density.  That is, the
shorter ones, in the six to seven inch range (15-18 cm), seem to have a
greater diameter.  The volume is therefore about the same.  There is one
exception.  Elias's phallus is both long and thick, 28 cm (10.5 in) in
length and 5 cm (2") thick.  His is the only one that does not stick
straight out but droops down a bit, but due to a slight up curve it looks
like it sticks out.  Elias and Stavors are pledged, so they take part but
only having oral and anal sex, with each other.

I was just thrilled by this, even more than at the Ganymede Society, since
you get a ring and you get to have sex with everyone else.  I don't know
what was in the lube they used but I know I was fucked about 10 times that
night and was not even slightly tender the next morning.  The one thing I
came away with was a sense of belonging; not just to a group but to a
tradition, that has roots so far back, no one can even date it or tell when
it got started.

Anyway when we moved from the little alter place, down to the benches I was
immediately surrounded by all the boys and a few of the men.  Kos was
surrounded only by men.  Each one of the boys welcomed me into their
company, in the most loving and passionate way possible.  I had no idea I
could kiss that many lips and suck that many cocks and still want more.  I
know Elias and Stators only kissed and fondled me and Kos and I'm
reasonably sure Dem and Thanos were the same.  I also don't think everyone
came either, the professor and graduate students did not stay past the
opening and some of the men were on duty in the communications centre and
so on.  That's okay.  I only wish dad had been here too.  Maybe he would
have shared himself with Kos and I, but he wasn't.  I know he loves us and
that's all that counts, isn't it.

I thought the members of the Ganymedes and Club were a buff group but these
men and boys were a cut above them.  To a person they were physically fit,
lean or muscled.  I would say this group would put any porn studio's stable
to shame.

Kos and I were constantly being surprised by the Papas brothers.  We
discovered, they all played some instrument or another and almost instantly
two additional guitars were produced and we began jamming.

By the end of the week, the old temple had been cleaned out and the
unneeded stairs removed.  Some of the false walls were also taken down but
lots of that still remained.  Once a couple of the columns on either side
of the entry were exposed we knew exactly how many more were still behind
the walls and exactly where they should be.

Kos, Yannie and the art tutor, cleaned the statue.  It was truly
marvellous.  It was a creamy white marble, very fine grained and with
almost no flaws or healed fractures. They told me, it was the famous Naxos
marble.  The carving was very detailed.  One additional difference was the
use of glass eyes for Zeus and Ganymede.  The glass was a deep cobalt.  Kos
told me that.  The art tutor told us, bronzes from the classical period
often had glass eyes but the use of them in marble carvings was very
uncommon.  I had learned in Athens, that often the statues were brightly
painted.  I doubt that this ever was for it showed no traces.

True to his word, Thanos had contacted mother and she would be arriving on
the island, along with dad and others on Friday.  That would be our 6th day
there.  In addition to my parents, many others were also due to arrive.
Thanos was intending to use his Twin Otter to bring all of them from Athens
and Paul was taking the Caravan, to bring back lots of additional supplies,
several cooks, along with some additional officers for the Aphrodite.

Kos and I were blown away by Stavors, that morning.  He took detailed notes
and on the big white board, in the massive dining room, created what he
called a critical path.  It diagrammed every activity for the next three
days.  Just what was being planned, began to make itself clear, as Stavors
worked.  Not only did he have a master plan and schedule but he was able to
show a series of sub plans, that related to specific events.  One of his
conclusions was not to fly but to sail the Aphrodite to Athens.

I know dad's people do this kind of thing for bridge designing and
construction but they also use computers.  Stavors just seemed to do it
right from his head.  I was fascinated by the process and before long was
asking enough questions, that he invited me to join him, while the others
went off to their classes.  That is when he told me how he and Thanos,
oversaw the construction of two new cruse ships that Papas lines had just
commissioned.

When I told him who my dad was, he almost shit.  Okay, that's a bit of an
exaggeration.  He did know who dad was and how famous he and his firm were,
for organizing as well as designing such complex projects as large bridges.
Anyway, he seemed to have everything organized down to the minute.  That is
when I saw Sheila O'Keef and Judge Carter's names, showing flight numbers
and arrival times.  Stavors didn't say anything, he just smiled, as I gave
out one hell of a war hoop.

Stavors had me make a list of all the guests, showing who were couples and
who were singles or children or what ever.  While I copied this, he kept
diagramming.  When I got the list ready he added a few more names to it,
that were not specified on the big diagrams.

Just before lunch, he called the chef in, so he could get started on menus
and quantity estimations.  When Kos arrived, he had that "shit eating grin
of satisfaction", on his face.  The one he gets, when he puts one over on
me.  Well I guess he did this time.  When Photois, Max and Seb came in they
too let out some cheer, telling me that Jytte and Bjorn, Photois' Danish
girlfriend and their deaf buddy, were also attending.

When Anglos and Thanos came in, after lunch, he informed us, Stavors and
me, that in addition to Sheila and Judge Carter, the Adonis clan of 10 were
arriving on the Adonis' Challenger.  Stavors just said, "If you keep this
up we will be three to a bed."

Thanos instructed Angelo to order more air beds and a couple gross of
condoms."

"Are you and Sheila, you know, intimate yet, Red," Thanos asked me.  I know
I blushed bright red, as usual.

"Not yet, but one can always hope.  Why?"

"Stavors needs to know for room assignments.  Photois and Jytte, Drew
Henderson and Sandra Johnson are couples, Jason and Eve Adonis, your
parents and several others need their own rooms.  We will be reorganizing
for a few days."  I think I must have looked puzzled or worried.

Stavors assured me, "We have 5 sail boats and two cabin cruisers free.
Don't worry buddy, a love nest is always available for you."  Now I know I
blushed bright red, so bright in fact, Anglos asked if I need Dr. Dem.

"You know Red, there is an old story, if a would be lover took flowers to
the temple of Aphrodite, seeking her assistance, she might just ask her son
or perhaps only attendant, Eros, the god of sexual love, you know, to give
a little help.  Ah but no temple is handy, however there is a lovely
sculpture, a rather erotic one, of Eros on the patio."  Thanos gave me
several kisses and hugs.

Later that day, Thanos held a big meeting of all the islands residents.  He
presented the plan that Stavors and I had worked out.  Mostly Stavors but I
did help and I made all the lists.

He instructed that, any and all porn should be hidden away.  While we have
visitors we must be discrete with our physical interactions, this and Dem's
nieces and the brother's half sisters should be treated as visiting
princesses.  All the adult female visitors should be given the same level
of respect as the grandmothers, who by the way, would also be attending.
In addition, guests would be served and the island's boys would be doing
the serving.

We would all be expected to keep our clothing on in public with no nude
swimming, unless we were sure no ladies or girls were present.

"I expect my sons to be the gentlemen you have all been trained to be."

Dem spoke next.  "We will also have a large group of Papas, Olympic Airways
and Adonis Diamond security people here.  That will mean uniforms when on
security duty; sorry about that.  Let's show them how it is done here."

"Everyone, except the National Museum and University of Athens people, will
be arriving by Saturday.  Monday will be the official day, with those
visitors arriving in the morning and departing in the early afternoon.
Everyone else, more or less, leaves on Tuesday."

Thanos instructed, "On Monday, we will meet the aircraft from Athens.
Except for Kos and Russ who will accompany their parents, each of you will
be assigned to a visitor, except Photois who will take pictures and Yannie,
who will assist Professor Albrech and the graduate students, i.e. you are
the press officers.  All of us, including Kos and Russ, will be dressed in
our formal, summer, Aphrodite crew uniforms."

Kon whispered to me, that he would see we were issued the stuff before the
due time.  All during this we had been playing crotch tag.  I figured he
would give me a personal fitting.  Something I was more than interested in
having.

Kon was the most masterful boy I had ever encountered.  He had me begging
for his continued attention in minutes.  Kos and Eric are good, no doubt
about that.  The other boys and men, I have encountered in the past year,
were mostly all, more than competent but Kon, he was a master.

His penis is long like his legs and his scrotum hangs low and is large.
Like all his brothers, he is clean shaven with no body hair except for his
head and eyebrows.  I'm like that too.  Kon has the ability to focus his
attention better then any other boy or man I have encountered.  I think
that is part of his secret.  I thought at first, the large difference in
our size would be difficult but it was not in the least.  He seemed to use
his exceedingly long legs to advantage.  His ass is small and very round
and he obviously enjoyed my hands kneading his taunt flesh.  All the Papas
boys have excellent oral skills.  Kon must be their teacher.

Later as we lay together enjoying a short refractory period, a prelude to
some serious, ass pounding fucking, we kissed and talked.  Kon had never
had much of any interaction with girls.  Oh sure, social stuff but never
any kind of intimacy or passion.  He confided, that the only brother so
far, to have experienced a female lover, was Photois.  I told him about
Sheila, since I think, that was probably what he wanted to know.  He asked
me all kinds of questions, which I tried to answer, not that I am all that
experienced but Sheila and I have been kind of going together for almost a
year now and I know she truly likes me.  I like her too.  He told me he
hoped to meet some girls in Athens during their winter stay, but the
grandmothers seemed to keep a lid on them.  I suggested he confide his
desire to the grandfathers.

The next day we began making things ready.  All the porn was hidden away.
Computer screen savers were altered, photos replaced and so on.  In the
Greek bath, locked folding doors now isolated the little alter and several
posters of nude or almost nude, very nubile women and girls, covered the
most risqué frescos and some of the blank areas, like the folding doors.

After lunch and a nice swim, we all assembled on the patio for some
refreshments and the cool breezes from the blue water.  This patio is
something else, like everything on the island.

Between the quay and the house, is an extensive terrace with chairs and
tables, potted plants and umbrellas and the like.  A line of flag poles,
with flags flying, marked the division between the quay and the terrace.
The terrace is about eight steps higher then the quay.  The flags flying
were the blue and white Greek national, in the centre with the pennant of
the Papas Shipping Lines on the right, a large one with a blue field and an
island in white in the middle and the words Paidi Nisi in black letters, on
the bottom.  Further to the right was another flag.  This one was also
blue, with a white dove on it.  That is Aphrodite's standard.  To the far
left, was another flag, again blue with a green laurel crown and a white
tripod which signified Apollo.

Several sculptures are placed around the terrace, one is Eros.  Kos told
me, "This is a modern work, in white marble, based on, but not a copy of,
the classical style".  He is depicted, as a life sized, 1.8 m (6') young
man or older boy, broad of shoulder, thick of breast, narrow of waist and
hips, with full thighs and well formed calves.  His legs are long and his
butt is moderate, with little hollows on each cheek.  The head has a small
nose, full mouth, large wide set eyes, with a moderate forehead and
shoulder length hair.  His chin has a small cleft and his cheeks dimples.
The god is naked and very well endowed, but not too well.  The ancients
thought being too well endowed was gross, in statues that is.  (see notes
and comments below)

While the boys enjoyed their cool drinks and socialized, their regular
history tutor appeared.  He had arrived earlier in the day on a special
flight from Athens.  His teaching methods are rather Socratic in style and
often involved long and convoluted stories.  He has a habit of making any
situation, where all the students are together, into some kind of learning
experience.  He was greeted warmly and introduced to Kos and Russell.

The history tutor's name is Dr. Panagiotis Arkenis or Takis for short.  He
is an average sized man with dark hair and complexion.  He has brown eyes
and a large nose for his overall face.  His smile is wide and his hair is
quite curly and almost wild.  He has thick brown eyebrows that set off a
twinkle in his eyes.  Takis loves to talk and is an accomplished story
teller.  He immediately sat close to Russ and Kos engaging them in
conversation.

"Professor Arkenis perhaps you can give me some guidance?"  Russ asked.

"I will surely try."

Earlier today Thanos suggested I seek some help from Aphrodite but we have
no temple.  He said, "You know Red, there is an old story, that if a
would-be lover took flowers to the temple of Aphrodite, seeking her
assistance, she might just ask her son or perhaps only attendant Eros, the
god of sexual love, you know, to give a little help.  Ah but no temple is
handy, however their is a lovely sculpture, a rather erotic one, of Eros on
the patio."  Russ pointed to the statue.

"Well let me see.  I don't know for sure but why would one necessarily need
a temple.  Except for some, but certainly not all of Apollo's temples were
associated with oracles; I don't believe they had any special significance
except locations.  Yes, I take it the object of your desire is to arrive
with the other guests this weekend?"

"Yes, sir.  Her name is Sheila."  Kos was desperately attempting not to
laugh, as were Spiros and Yannie.  Seb could see Red's concern and
immediately moved in to render assistance.

"Well Russell," Takis said, "I think any place believers gather together
constitutes a temple.  Since we have just that here, and a fine statue
representing Eros and all of us believe in love, I would say you are in
luck.  I can't say I know as much about the procedures as your mother would
but if Thanos suggested flowers.  I would suggest you gather some flowers
and hang them on that statue."

Fortunately the statue was a good distance away.  Seb immediately took
Russ' hand and lead him away.

"I know where we can get some great flowers, Red."  When they were out of
ear shot of the others he added, "I don't know if Eros speaks English, so
if you tell me what to say, I'll translate it."  Russ was very happy and
squeezed Seb's hand hard, to indicate his agreement and thanking him for
the support.  If Eros does not speak English, he probably doesn't speak
modern Greek either.  Something neither boy thought of.

Seb showed Russ where the wild flowers grew in abundance and together they
picked a small bouquet.  When they returned to the group, Takis suggested
everyone gather around so he could tell them about Ganymede and what he
thought the significance of the shrine was.

..................................  Here are my notes and some thoughts on
this stuff, I edited out of the text above.  If you are interested please
read on.  dnrock

[Your author thinks, they didn't want the works of art, to make the
citizens viewing them, feel inadequate.  He thinks this because, the old
Greeks were the first peoples to explore man as the center of artistic
focus.  They celebrated the human form and the humanity of their society,
not deities or abstract ideas.  They may have chosen to represent gods and
mythical heroes but in the from of mortals.  In the later classical period,
athletes and others were celebrated and represented as well.]

[Eros  (EER-oss or AIR-oss) god of love.  Later writers portrayed Eros as
a roguish boy, but he was actually one of the most venerable of deities.
According to Hesiod, Chaos was born first, and after Chaos, Earth, Tartarus
and Eros.  Pausanias says that Eros is commonly considered to be the son of
Aphrodite, but elsewhere he describes a sculpture of Eros greeting the
goddess as she is born from the sea.  Eros is depicted in Greek art, as a
beautiful youth.]

[Another is Hermes, the messenger god.  This too is classical in style,
naked and a fine masculine depiction.  The sculpture had taken a few
elements from the Romans, such as landing on one winged foot and a strange
hat.

HERMES (HUR-meez) the messenger of the gods and guide of dead souls to the
Underworld.  A prankster and inventive genius from birth.  Hermes was known
for his helpfulness to mankind, both in his capacity as immortal herald and
on his own initiative.  He had magic sandals, which conferred upon the
wearer the ability to fly and a helmet of invisibility as well.  Also known
as the helmet of darkness.  Hermes' symbol of office as divine messenger
was his staff, or caduceus.  This was originally a willow wand with
entwined ribbons, traditional badge of the herald.  But the ribbons were
eventually depicted as snakes.  It was Hermes' job to convey dead souls to
the Underworld.  And as patron of travelers, he was often shown in a
wide-brimmed sun hat of straw.  His most famous depiction, a statue by
Bellini, shows him alight on one foot, wings at his heels, the snaky
caduceus in hand and, on his head, a rather stylized combination
helmet-of-darkness and sun hat.]

[Erichthonius, the first to ever harness four horses to a chariot, was the
richest of mortal men. He had a son named Tros, lord of the Trojans, and to
him in turn were born three unblemished boys: Ilus founder of Ilium,
Assaracus, and god-like Ganymede -- the handsomest ever born of the human
race. Tros loved Ganymede from the bottom of his heart and set guardians
and tutors to watch over him as he wrestled, or rode to the hounds, or swam
through the crashing, dragging breakers of the warm Mediterranean.

One day, looking down from his throne on Mount Olympus, Zeus spied Ganymede
up in the meadows of Mount Ida, chilling with his friends under the
watchful gaze of his aged tutors.  Instantly, the King of Heaven flamed
with love for the young Trojan's thighs. Old Zeus was a rather lusty fellow
as we know.  Zeus shook himself once and turned into a powerful
eagle. Straight-away he swooped down upon the world of men.  Casting shafts
of lightning every which way, he whipped up a fierce tempest turning day
into night.  Under cover of the storm the majestic eagle pounced and
tenderly seized the boy in his talons.  The aged guardians reached out to
stop him, the hounds barked madly.  Paying them no heed, the god and the
boy rose up higher and higher and vanished into the blue.

In the blink of an eye the two arrived in Olympus. The eagle folded his
wings, shook himself once and turned back into a god.  He took Ganymede to
bed and then appointed him cup bearer.  But to make room for him, Zeus had
to chase away Hebe, Hera's daughter and his, who served the drinks at the
divine feasts.  Clumsy, he called her, claiming she once stumbled. Hera saw
it all and went insane with rage and jealousy.

All the other gods rejoiced to have Ganymede among them, for his beauty
filled them with delight.  Well we know they were a lusty bunch as well.
And Ganymede thought pouring nectar to the immortals was mad cool, and when
he filled his lover's cup he made sure to press his lips to it first,
giving it half a twist as he placed it in Zeus' hand.

Back on Earth, Tros' heart was filled with cruel sorrow, not knowing where
the divine tempest had taken his son.  He cried endless tears.  Even Zeus
was moved by his pain.  He knew the pain when one we love is taken from us.
Zeus sent down Hermes his messenger, who let Tros know the boy was now
among the gods, immortal and forever young.  Zeus gave Tros, in exchange
for his son, a pair of white prancing mares, deathless and able to walk on
water, the very same that carry the immortals. Tros' heart was filled with
joy and he drove his new horses as fast as the wind.

Hera, besides herself, vented her rage by destroying the Trojans.  She was
jealous.  But Zeus, grateful for Ganymede's love, made a place for him
among the stars as Aquarius -- the Water Bearer.  There he still stands,
smiling, pouring nectar and shielded to this day by the wing of the Eagle
constellation.]

The history tutor is speaking: "These Greek myths, are based quite closely
on ancient fragments. The sources range from poets, to historians, to
playwrights and early Christian polemicists.  Thus the form of the stories
should be seen as a late ones, incorporating, in many cases, Roman
sensibilities.  It is not always easy to identify some of these later
influences but we try.

Of course there has never been any one "true" version, of any of these
stories, as they were told and retold over a span of at least two thousand
years, across a region of three continents, from the Black Sea to the
shores of North Africa; an area now occupied by such countries as Bulgaria,
Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Italy and others.  Nonetheless, the myths
collectively reflect a world view, in which male love was wholly compatible
with living life in a sacred way, a path to heroism and divinity.  At least
as the ancients saw it."

(Taken largely from:
http://www.androphile.org/preview/Library/Mythology/Greek/Zeus_Ganymede/Zeus_and_Ganymede.htm)

"I think we need to review for Kosmos and Russell my lectures on Crete, for
it is thought by some, the Ganymede story resulted from Minos, to justify
his population control efforts.

[On the other hand, one of the myths explaining the origin of pederasty has
it that Minos, the king of Crete, introduced it to avoid overpopulation of
his island.  That custom, in the form of a traditional rite of passage, is
also the earliest form of pederasty that is historically documented, in a
text of Ephorus of Kyme.

The lover announces to his friends his decision to perform the abduction,
three or four days before. Now it would be disgraceful to hide the boy or
to forbid him to go the appointed road, because this would mean that he did
not deserve such a lover. Then when they have met and the lover takes rank
with the boy or even ranks above him, they pursue the abductor only out of
tradition to keep up appearances, in fact they let him go delightedly.
Still they pursue him until he has brought the boy into his house.  But if
the lover is not of equal rank, they wrench the boy from him forcibly.  As
you see it was partly game and partly ceremonial.  He who excels in beauty
is regarded as less desirable than he who distinguishes himself by valor
and virtue.  The boy receives a present from his friend, and the latter
takes him to where he wants to have him.  The witnesses to the abduction go
with them; then follows a festive dinner, after which they return to
town. Two months later the boy is sent home, with rich presents. (Three
traditional presents made up the symbolic foundation of the boy's entry
into adult life: a suit of armor symbolizing martial accomplishment, a bull
symbolizing the responsibilities of working the land, and a cup,
symbolizing divine inebriation as the path to the accomplishments of the
spirit.) Besides these there were many other valuable gifts, so that the
friends too may have their pleasure.  Upon his return the young man
sacrificed the bull to Zeus and treated his friends to a feast.  At the
same time he had to answer the ritual question of whether he liked the
relationship with his abductor or not, a tradition which presumably served
as further restraint on those lovers prone to take advantage of their
position.

The Greek Dorian tribes, such as the Spartans, had similar traditions,
though details varied from one state to another. The underlying idea
remained the same, though: that the adult lover had to give the adolescent
beloved a piece of his own heart, so to speak, transferring his own areté,
meaning all that was good and noble in him, to facilitate the youth's
passage into manhood. The bond that was formed by these relationships often
lasted beyond the end of the youth's formal education. Sometimes the older
man remained responsible for his pupil until the latter reached
marriageable age of about thirty. Remember on Crete the couple united for
life and only a few were allowed to father children.

The power of love that was used to such good effect to educate Greek youths
also served to sharpen their motivation, and that of their lovers, in
battle. The bravery of male couples, such as those that made up the Theban
Sacred Band, was well known throughout ancient Greece and was an important
factor in war.  Pederastic couples were also known as tyrannicides, killers
of tyrants, in that they often were the first to rise up against despots.
Harmodius and his erastes, Aristogiton, were perhaps the best known of
those couples.

Based largely on a part of:
http://www.androphile.org/preview/Culture/Greece/greece.htm]

"I know that is much abbreviated and the cup has not yet been discussed.
In the Ceretion ceremony a decorated cup played a very important role.
That cup in Ganymede's hands is just that, highly decorated with the same
symbols and not a standard cup or mug at all.  That is what makes professor
Albrech and I believe this statue has some Ceretion connections, not to
mention our geographic relationship.  We are sure, the purpose of this site
is related to the fundamental ideas of peadistary, in ancient Greek
society.  While the details varied from city state to city state, the
ideals and ideas were consistent."