Dionysus was a young god when he met Ampelos, a boy with long hair that fell on his neck and a body that gleamed in the sun as he climbed out of the water. Dionysus was afraid that Zeus, his father, would want Ampelos for himself, and asked him to leave this boy, who outshone even beautiful Ganymede, to him. Zeus agreed and the two lovers spent their time swimming in forest ponds, hunting, throwing the thyrsus, walking, and wrestling. Unfortunately, Ampelos was killed by a bull or fell to his death from an elm tree while attempting to pick grapes. Dionysus rushed to his side and held him in his arms as he died. The immortals took pity on the stricken god and transformed Ampelos into a vine.