John William Waterhouse, Hylas and the Nymphs, 1896

Hylas was the son of King Theiodamas of the Dryopians, an aboriginal tribe in ancient Greece. When the hero Heracles killed King Theiodamas, Hylas became Heracles’ servant, companion, and then, lover. The two went on the Argo, became Argonauts, and helped Jason in his quest to find the Golden Fleece. While on this voyage, Hylas went looking for drinking water when he was seduced and abducted by water nymphs. The Argo searched for Hylas, but they never did find him, much to Heracles’ dismay.

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