Cupid, the Roman God of Love
Cupid
Image © Getty Images
Cupid is typically portrayed with his bow and arrows, aiming to shoot at the hearts of his targets.
In ancient Rome, Cupid was the incarnation of Eros, the god of love. As Eros, he was dark and full of lust and desire. Eventually, though, he evolved into the image we have today of a chubby cherub, flitting about zapping people with his arrows. In particular, he enjoyed matching people up with odd partners, and this eventually ended up being his own undoing.
Cupid, in his aspect as Eros, fell in love with a maiden named Psyche. Originally, Cupid was sent to destroy Psyche by his mother, Venus (the Roman version of Aphrodite), who was jealous of the mortal woman's beauty. Once he laid eyes on her, though, Cupid was completely smitten. Head over heels in love, Cupid arranged for Psyche to come live with him. However, he did this in disguise, so although she returned his love, she never actually saw what he looked like. Her sisters were so jealous of her happiness that they taunted her, saying that her new lover must be hideous indeed to hide his true appearance from her.
One night, Psyche's sisters convinced her to follow Cupid as he left her. He awoke and saw her standing there with a knife, and told her he must leave her, for "love cannot dwell where there is no trust." Realizing what a fool she was, Psyche went to Venus for her help. Venus, naturally, thought this was hilarious, and set about making Psyche perform a number of seemingly impossible tasks. In each case, Psyche was assisted by a god, and so she performed all the jobs assigned to her by Venus. Eventually, Psyche and Cupid were reunited, and allowed to marry.
Today, Cupid is seen on Valentine's Day cards and decorations, and is invoked as a god of pure love and innocence -- a far cry from his original form.
Today, Cupid is seen on Valentine's Day cards and decorations, and is invoked as a god of pure love and innocence -- a far cry from his original form.
Eros, Greek God of Passion and Lust
By Patti Wigington, About.com Guide
Often described as a son of Aphrodite by her lover Ares, the god of war, Eros was a Greek god of lust and primal sexual desire. In fact, the word erotic comes from his name. He is personified in all kinds of love and lust -- heterosexual and homosexual -- and was worshipped at the center of a fertility cult that honored both Eros and Aphrodite together.
There does seem to be some question about Eros' parentage. In later Greek myth he is indicated to be Aphrodite's son, but Hesiod portrays him as merely her servant or attendant. Some stories say Eros is the child of Iris and Zephyrus, and early sources, such as Aristophanes, say he is the offspring of Nix and Erebus, which would make him quite an old god indeed.
During the classical Roman period, Eros evolved into Cupid, and became portrayed as the chubby cherub that still remains as a popular image today. He is typically shown blindfolded -- because, after all, love is blind -- and carrying a bow, with which he shot arrows at his intended targets. As Cupid, he is often invoked as a god of pure love during Valentine's Day, but in his original form, Eros was mostly about lust and passion.
Interesting Reality:
The word “erotic”, meaning lovemaking love, originates from the name of Eros. However, even in ancient times, his quality of love was regarded as spiritual as well as physical, and was generally thought to be the deity who caused the love of beauty, healing, independence, and many other good things along with the love between people.
Often described as a son of Aphrodite by her lover Ares, the god of war, Eros was a Greek god of lust and primal sexual desire. In fact, the word erotic comes from his name. He is personified in all kinds of love and lust -- heterosexual and homosexual -- and was worshipped at the center of a fertility cult that honored both Eros and Aphrodite together.
There does seem to be some question about Eros' parentage. In later Greek myth he is indicated to be Aphrodite's son, but Hesiod portrays him as merely her servant or attendant. Some stories say Eros is the child of Iris and Zephyrus, and early sources, such as Aristophanes, say he is the offspring of Nix and Erebus, which would make him quite an old god indeed.
During the classical Roman period, Eros evolved into Cupid, and became portrayed as the chubby cherub that still remains as a popular image today. He is typically shown blindfolded -- because, after all, love is blind -- and carrying a bow, with which he shot arrows at his intended targets. As Cupid, he is often invoked as a god of pure love during Valentine's Day, but in his original form, Eros was mostly about lust and passion.
Interesting Reality:
The word “erotic”, meaning lovemaking love, originates from the name of Eros. However, even in ancient times, his quality of love was regarded as spiritual as well as physical, and was generally thought to be the deity who caused the love of beauty, healing, independence, and many other good things along with the love between people.
