In classical mythology,
Hylas was a youth who served as
Heracles' (Roman Hercules) companion and servant. His abduction by water nymphs
was a theme of ancient art, and has been an enduring subject for Western art in
the classical tradition. After Heracles killed Theiodamas in battle, he took on
Hylas as arms bearer and taught him to be a warrior. The poet Theocritus (about
300 BC) wrote about the love between Heracles and Hylas: "We are not the
first mortals to see beauty in what is beautiful. No, even Amphitryon's
bronze-hearted son, who defeated the savage Nemean lion, loved a boy—charming
Hylas, whose hair hung down in curls. And like a father with a dear son he
taught him all the things which had made him a mighty man, and famous."
Heracles took Hylas with him on
the Argo, making him one of the Argonauts. Hylas was kidnapped by nymphs of the
spring of Pegae, Mysia when they fell in love with him, and he vanished without
a trace (Apollonios Rhodios). This greatly upset Heracles, so he along with Polyphemus
searched for a great length of time. The ship set sail without them. According
to the Latin Argonautica of Valerius Flaccus, they never found Hylas because
the latter had fallen in love with the nymphs and remained "to share their
power and their love." Theocritus, on the other hand, has the nymphs
shutting his mouth underwater to stifle his screams for Heracles.