The stories of Cupid and Psyche and Orpheus and Eurydice are two of the most powerful love stories in Greek mythology. In ancient Greece he was known as Eros, the young son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. The story of Cupid and Psyche comes to us from the ancient Roman novel "Metamorphoses" by Apuleius, which was written in the latter half of the second century CE. Take advantage of our Presidents' Day bonus! Portrayed as a cherubic and mischievous toddler, this magical boy was purported to be the matchmaker of gods and mortals alike. The title and image of the Queen of Heaven persist in popular religious tradition. Although some literature portrayed Cupid as callous and careless, he was generally viewed as beneficent, on account of the happiness he imparted to couples both mortal and immortal. With Georgina Jane, Michael Owusu, Abi Casson Thompson, Ali Barouti. And when the Romans conscripted the Eros mythology, they chose to bring over the more recent iteration of the god as a cute little kid. Directed by Scott Jeffrey. According to Apuleius, the jealous Venus commanded her son Cupid (the god of love) to inspire Psyche with love for the most despicable of men. There is a very interesting story about Cupid and His mortal Bride Psyche in Roman mythology. Cupid and Psyche: Myth or Folktale? Cupid definition, the ancient Roman god of love and the son of either Mars or Mercury and Venus, identified with Eros and commonly represented as a winged, naked, infant boy with a bow and arrows. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. When Cupid's mother Venus became jealous of the princess Psyche, who was so beloved by her subjects that they forgot to worship Venus, she ordered Cupid to … In 2015, Americans spent a whopping $18.9 billion on gifts to celebrate their love. When a drop of oil from the lamp awakened him, he reproached Psyche and fled. The Real Story of Cupid (and other Valentine’s Day Traditions) by Nick Thalhammer . “I pray that love may never come to me / With murderous intent, in rhythms measureless and wild,” the ancient playwright wrote. Corrections? This article was most recently revised and updated by. According to some ancient tales, Venus, goddess of love, was besotted with Adonis, who shares a number of commonalities with Cupid and Eros. Eros as One of the Erotes, Children of Aphrodite … While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Venus. Lucius Apuleius was born about 124 in northern Africa and was educated in Carthage and Athens. Cupid is often portrayed on Valentine’s Day cards as a naked cherub launching arrows of love at unsuspecting lovers. Venus … Traced back to 700 BC, this character of legend was called Eros, Martin explains: the Greek word for desire. To the Roman's he was Cupid, and his mother was Venus. In Roman mythology, Cupid also goes by the name Amor or Cupido. It was particularly popular with Renaissance … “The way to sort of constrain, constrict and defuse Eros is to keep infantilizing him. He often appeared as a winged infant carrying a bow and a quiver of arrows whose wounds inspired love or passion in his every victim. ), This is pretty far off from the modern depiction of this god as a playful little boy. UnlikeAeneas and Dido, the story of Cupid and Psyche tends to have more strength. Cupid’s mythological soap opera inspired another literary work that serves as the root of a popular modern classic. His role in history continues today as the mascot of Saint Valentine's Day. Thank you for reading! Here’s Why That Famous Embodiment of Desire Is a Child. This made Venus so angry that she ordered Cupid to go and … Oh, by the way, if he hits you with one of his arrows, you too will live happily ever … Each has a counterpart in Hellenistic Greek mythology, where Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty, and her son, the youngest god in the pantheon, is Eros. The tale concerns the overcoming of obstacles to the love between Psyche and Cupid or Amor, and their ultimate union in a sacred marriage. The names of so many of the heroes and characters are known today through movies and games but the actual story about such characters are unknown. CUPID and PSYCHE 2. In Roman mythology, the boy is known as Cupid and is the son … Adapted from The Age of Fable, or Stories of Gods and Heroes by Thomas Bulfinch, Once upon a time, a king and queen had three daughters. One of Hallmark's 2019 depictions of Cupid. Eros was suddenly not so powerful anymore: He would act only on his mother’s wishes. Role Himeros Played in the Story of Cupid and Psyche and Orpheus and Eurydice. Such stories serve as a doorway to enter the world of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. Eros was one of many Greek gods who had a Roman counterpart. Many writers have interpreted it as an allegory, with Cupid representing Love and Psyche the Soul. He took her as his wife, but as a mortal she was forbidden to look at him. Cupid was often depicted with wings, a bow, and a quiver of arrows. Venus starts to miss … It concerns the overcoming of obstacles to the love between Psyche ("Soul" or "Breath of Life") and Cupid, and their ultimate union in marriage. This form means ‘desire.’ If we stop to think about it, regardless of our age, the people we love deeply are ones we enjoy and desire to be with as much as possible. One night Psyche lit a lamp and found that the figure at her side was the god of love himself. The Story of Cupid: Cupid is the most famous of Valentine symbols. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. The story of Cupid is a myth. Ancient pagan images took on new connotations … Cupid’s mother, Venus, was extremely jealous of the beauty of a mortal princess, Psyche. The story of Cupid is therefore necessarily also the story of his mother. Cupid and Psyche is a famous Ancient Greco-Roman myth. Many experts in the world of folktales and movies believe that the currently popular “Beauty and The Beast” is a modern day version of the story of Cupid and Psyche. Cupid and Psyche 1. Venus is the goddess of love and beauty. The great Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite (or Venus in Latin), was born from the foam near the island of Cyprus, for which reason she is referred to as "the Cyprian." When the Roman era began, because Greeks were seen as culturally sophisticated, much of this Greek mythology was adopted by the new ruling classes. The story ends with Cupid and Psyche reunited as equals and with Cupid repenting for breaking up human marriages through his amorous influence. Traced back to 700 BC, this character of legend was called Eros, Martin explains: the Greek word for desire. Omissions? The myth of Cupid and Psyche was told by Apuleius (a Roman writer who lived in 125-170 aC), in his book "Metamorphoses or the Golden Ass", that's why the name of the characters are Latin (when in fact they should have been "Eros and Psyche"). The story brings out the extent that one can go to in the name of seeking love.This comes out when Psyche is not ready to lose Cupid. Although the characters of Cupid and Psyche can be found in Greek art as early as the 4 th century BC, the earliest written record of this story was written by Apuleius in the 2 nd century AD. Centuries later, Renaissance painters took up this imagery and depicted the Cupid figure as a child. Discover the myth of Eros and Psyche The legendary beauty of Psyche The Roman Cupid. This postal reform made it possible for everyday Americans to send and receive mail—while the Industrial Revolution brought the advent of printing press technology. Though they are two different tales, they have similar elements and … In Latin, Cupid goes by two names that have different origins, but whose meanings are both associated with love. It is a beautiful, romantic story... but I can't refrain from making some comments on the Cupid and Psyche story, you'll find them in … The story is part of Africanus' comic novel "The Golden Ass." The legend of Cupid and Psyche is one of the oldest love stories in recorded history. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. Story: Cupid and Psyche Cupid and Psyche. What would Valentine's Day be without images of a golden-tressed boy armed with bow and arrows? Eros – known as Cupid to the Romans – was the Greek god of sexual attraction, a constant companion of Aphrodite. As Valentine’s Day became more convenient, Cupid imagery only continued to grow. If a woman controlled his every move, Martin speculates, then mortals had no reason to fear him. See more. Although the characters of Cupid and Psyche can be found in Greek art as early as the 4 th century BC, the earliest written record of this story was written by Apuleius in the 2 nd century AD. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. For the Romans, the character of Cupid was always a cherubic little boy who followed his mother’s wishes to make people fall in love. Wandering the earth in search of him, Psyche fell into the hands of Venus, … The arrows represent feelings of love and desire, and they are aimed and cast at various individuals, causing them to fall deeply in love or fall out of it. The inserted story of Cupid and Psyche is found on pages 66-99. The Greek conception of Eros as a god who used his power for ill is not what Cupid stands for today. Roman, after a Greek original of the first half of the 4th century BC. He is known as a mischievous, winged child armed with bow and arrows and is famous for piercing hearts. A myth is a traditional story or legend that is believed to be true but really isn’t.In Roman mythology, Cupid was the son of Venus the goddess of love and beauty. Cupid, who really loved Psyche all the while, came upon her lifeless body. Cupid has always played a role in the celebrations of love and lovers. Once upon a time, there was a king who had three … Also known in Latin as Amor — meaning “Love,” the god Cupid’s power — Cupid both wonderfully and dangerously lives up to his name as the Roman god of love. Artist Unknown. In Roman mythology, the boy is known as Cupid and is the son of Venus, the goddess of love. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our. “So, whatever he wants to happen, happens — and he causes disaster.”. In Greek mythology her name is Aphrodite. Cupid immediately falls in love with Psyche and gradually a relationship blossoms between the two. Cupid and Psyche is a famous Ancient Greco-Roman myth. Apuleius’ Cupid and Psyche is a story about a romantic relationship that blossoms between Psyche and Cupid, the son of Venus, who is the goddess of love.According to the story, Psyche is quite beautiful to the extent that Venus, the goddess of love, developed hatred for her (Apuleius 39). Painting in Brodsworth Hall, South Yorkshire. After his death the statue entered the Louvre Museum in Paris, France in 1824; Prince Yusupov, a Russian nobleman acquired the 2nd version of the piece from Canova in Rome in 1796, and it later … Lucius Apuleius was born about 124 in northern Africa and was educated in Carthage and Athens. Updates? The god Cupid — in Latin Cupido, meaning “Desire” — was the son of none other the Roman goddess of love, Venus.. In fact, industry-wide, around 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent annually—not including children’s classroom cards, Bradbeer says. Also known as ‘The Tale of Amour and Psyche,’ the story first was told by a character in a Lucius Apuleius' novel written in the second century. Valentine’s Day is a serious endeavor in the United States. Ba ckg round o f th e Au th o r : Lucius Apuleius was born about c. 124 C.E He was an African, an excellent follower of Plato his sect, born in Madaura, a Countrey sometime inhabited by the Romans, and under the jurisdiction of Syphax, scituate and lying on the borders of Numidia and Getulia, whereby he called himself … Sculptor: Bertel Thorvaldsen (c. 1770-1844), photo by Daderot, Cupid and Psyche. However, there seems to be many similarities between the two concepts, and the story of Eros and Psyche is no … While his genealogy varies according to myth, Eros is most often referred to as the child of Venus (Aphrodite in … How Eros Became Cupid. Thu, 02/11/2021 - 1:27pm lisa. “Cupid and Psyche were part of the inspiration for the story … Venus and Cupid, circa 18th century. … The gods then made Psyche a goddess. How COVID-19 Is Delaying Justice in Courts, an effort to circumvent the privatization, Cherubic Cupid Is Everywhere on Valentine’s Day. The story of Cupid. Valentine’s Day is not just fun and games—the legend and stories that we cherish on Valentine’s Day have history that is as old as time itself. In Roman mythology, Cupid is the son of Venus, the goddess of love. This is evident … Cupid sows love in one’s heart, the most basic of love; the carnal, romantic ardor; the raw, almost animalistic passion of lovers. According to myth, Cupid was the son of Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods, and Venus, the goddess of love. The arrows signifies desire and emotions of love. Psyche was happy until her sisters persuaded her to look at Cupid. The original Cupid was more of a heartthrob than a cherub. “In the [Greek] literary sources we have, he’s depicted as just unconquerable,” Richard Martin, a classics professor at Stanford University, tells TIME. The origins of the story are obscure. Instead, Cupid placed Psyche in a remote palace where he could visit her secretly and, by his warning, only in total darkness. The arrows represent feelings of love and desire, and they are aimed and cast at various individuals, causing them to fall deeply in love - or fall out of it. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Cupid, ancient Roman god of love in all its varieties, the counterpart of the Greek god Eros and the equivalent of Amor in Latin poetry. The story of how Eros became Cupid shows how Greek mythology over the course of many generations and continued to be changed by the culture of Rome. In this tale, Cupid is a little older, a young man, so the idea of him in romantic love is a bit more palatable than picturing a chubby baby falling in love with a lady. Even Cupid fell desperately in love once because of his arrows. Knack for amorous romance apparently runs in the family. But despite his infant form, that baby, widely known these days as Cupid, began his mythological life as a man who had more power than any god. Based on his mother’s wishes rather than his own chaotic impulses, he would use his powers to create relationships between people. The arrows represent feelings of love and desire, and they are aimed and cast at various … In the Archaic period, Eros — the son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love — would play with the hearts of mortals and gods to cause mayhem. It could have been adapted from a folk-tale or have its roots in ancient myth. In a choral ode from Sophocles’ Antigone, circa 440 BCE, Eros’ power is described as almost sinister: [Eros] invincible in battle, [Eros] who falls upon men’s property, you who spend the night upon the soft cheeks of a girl, and travel over the sea and through the huts of dwellers in the wild! It’s no surprise that when greeting-card manufacturers made products for the holiday, they included imagery of Cupid that was inspired by beloved Renaissance art, Samantha Bradbeer, the historian for Hallmark Cards, Inc., explains. Legend has it that Cupid shoots magical gold … Please try again later. All Rights Reserved. When one is enchanted by the Roman love god’s magic, that defenseless soul, … Despite the fact that they were both very lonely, according to the story they lived happily ever after together. After being horrendously embarrassed by the mean girls at school, Faye, a practicing witch, summons the evil Cupid to take revenge on all those who wronged her. But instead, Cupid fell deeply in love with her. This is your last free article. It wasn’t just the Romans who became obsessed with the Greek portrayal of Cupid. At the worst he was considered mischievous in his matchmaking, this mischief often directed by his mother, Venus. Some Facts About Cupid. Every year on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day is marked by shades of pink, flowers, chocolates, romantic movies and wine — and images of a magical baby boy who flies around shooting arrows at people. “Sometimes, people need a little bit of a push to make that first move — to better express themselves,” she says. Increasingly, Eros’ stories were linked to stories about his mother, Aphrodite. In Hippolytus, a 5th century BCE play by Euripides, the frightening notion that Eros could force the wrong people into love is highlighted. Statue of Eros, 2nd century. So when Hallmark began manufacturing Valentine’s Day cards in 1916, this mass production meant sending postcards was much cheaper and easier. In Roman mythology, the boy is known as Cupid and is the son of Venus, the goddess of love. For students of Greek mythology, Cupid represents Eros, the Greek word for "desire." The story begins with a king and queen who have three daughters. Venus was jealous of the beauty of Psyche, and ordered Cupid to punish the mortal. Depicted as a young man in his late teens, he was considered both handsome and threatening, as he would use his power to make people fall in love. In one tale, her machinations backfired when she used Cupid in revenge on the mortal Psyche, only to have Cupid fall in love and succeed in making Psyche his immortal wife. Valentine’s Day has remained one of Hallmark’s two biggest holidays, along with Christmas, since the company’s founding as a postcard company in 1910. Apuleius’ interpretation as both a myth and fairy tale, remains one of the best love stories of all time. While Cupid is always shown with wings, Psyche whose name means ‘soul’ is depicted … Cupid and Psyche is a Roman myth written in the 2nd century CE, based on similar, much older folktales from Europe and Asia. Cupid, or Y/N as she prefers to be called, pairs people up, is the queen of love in general- yet she's sworn not to love. This is seen in 1602 with Caravaggio’s Cupid, which showed a young, nude boy with wings and a bow. “I think sometimes having Cupid depicted on the card behind a couple, [he is] kind of pushing them together to do just that: to express their love, their friendship.”. One of Cupid’s Roman names is Cupido. Essay Example. The story of how Eros became Cupid shows how Greek mythology over the course of many generations and continued to be changed by the culture of Rome. They named him Cupid, a synonym for Eros that also translates to “desire.” (His mother was likewise Venus, the Roman version of the Greek Aphrodite.). They include many of the qualities unique to a well crafted fairytales while remaining realistic and rational. (“Love” translates to Eros in Greek passages about the god. The story of Cupid What would Valentine's Day be without images of a golden-tressed boy armed with bow and arrows? The story of Cupid and Psyche was known to Boccaccio in c. 1370, but the editio princeps dates to 1469. What would Valentine's Day be without images of a golden-tressed boy armed with bow and arrows? Therefore, Venus asks her son, cupid, to go and stab Psyche with an arrow. In Greek mythology, he was known as Eros and was the son of Aphrodite. Cupid has always played a role in the celebration of love … In classical mythology, Cupid is the god of desire and love. The story of Cupid Feb 9, 2021 Feb 9, 2021 Updated 3 hrs ago; Facebook; Twitter; WhatsApp; SMS; Email; Facebook; Twitter; WhatsApp; SMS; Email; Print ; Save; What would Valentine’s Day be without images of a golden-tressed boy armed with bow and arrows? The story of Cupid and Psyche appears in Greek art as early as the 4th century BC, but the most extended literary source of the tale is the Latin novel Metamorphoses, also known as The Golden Ass, by Apuleius (2nd century AD). The Story of Cupid and Psyche. But social status of women in Athens — the central city of Greek literature — was falling drastically. Discover the myth of Eros and Psyche The legendary beauty of Psyche. The tale concerns the overcoming of obstacles to the love between Psyche, (“Soul” or “Breath of Life”) and Cupid (Latin Cupido, “Desire”) or Amor (“Love”, Greek Eros), and their ultimate union in a sacred marriage.Although the only extended … — Apuleius. hand, some might say that folktale is defined as an anonymous story, that originates and circulates orally among a people (Harris and Platzner, 1054), or even that folktales involve a fairy god mother and dancing mice. By signing up you are agreeing to our, Soviets Banished Santa, Then Brought Him Back, What America's Richest Ski Town's Handling of COVID-19 Shows. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. It may seem strange, still, that we would collectively associate a baby with a bow and arrow as a symbol of this extraordinarily popular holiday. At this point it is appropriate to say "and they all lived happily ever after". There is a very interesting story about Cupid and His mortal Bride Psyche in Roman mythology. The account of Cupid and Psyche is presented in his novel The Golden Ass (also titled The Metamorphoses, or Metamorphosis) as an "old wive's tale" told by an old woman to comfort a young woman who … Psyche was so beautiful that people from near and far came to worship her, completely forgetting to pay homage to goddess Venus. He is known as a mischievous, winged child armed with bow and arrows and is famous for piercing hearts. Cupid and Psyche 1. Ba ckg round o f th e Au th o r : Lucius Apuleius was born about c. 124 C.E He was an African, an excellent follower of Plato his sect, born in Madaura, a Countrey sometime inhabited by the Romans, and under the jurisdiction of Syphax, scituate and lying on the borders of Numidia and Getulia, whereby he called himself … The charms of the two older sisters were more … The story of Cupid and Psyche is taken from Lucius Apuleius' Latin novel The Golden Ass, and was popular in art. The inserted story of Cupid and Psyche is found on pages 66-99. According to myth, Cupid was the son of Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods, and Venus, the goddess of love. None among the immortals can escape, you, nor any among mortal men, and he who has you is mad. In Roman mythology, Cupid is the son of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. People were intimidated by this sexually powerful, controlling man, who could strike people into loving one other. CUPID and PSYCHE 2. Portrayed as a cherubic and mischievous toddler, this magical boy was purported to be the matchmaker of gods and mortals alike. “It’s more like he causes you to fall in love, and that can lead to tragedy,” Martin says of Eros — a “cosmic force for bringing things together.”, Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter. The story’s Neoplatonic elements and allusions to mystery religions accommodate multiple interpretations, and it has been analyzed as an allegory and in light of folktale, Märchen or fairy tale, and myth. In the love story of Eros (Cupid in Latin) and Psyche (meaning "soul" in Greek), we can see the perseverance of a man even when he is possessed by passion and the effort of a woman to overcome many obstacles in order to achieve the happiness of love. For a story about love and marriage, death permeates much of the story of Cupid and Psyche. Cupid: The God of … For a story about love and marriage, death permeates much of the story of Cupid and Psyche. He often appeared as a winged infant carrying a bow and a quiver of arrows whose wounds inspired love or passion in his every victim. The story of Cupid's life is one of myth and legend dating back to ancient Greece and Rome. The story of Cupid and his mother is no exception. The arrows signifies desire and emotions of love. Eros was one of many Greek gods who had a Roman counterpart. The Story of Cupid Cupid is the most famous of Valentine symbols. And by and by she [Venus] called her winged son Cupid. Although the only extended narrative from antiquity is that … It is a story of great charm, a fact which has been reflected in the numerous re-tellings since Apuleius's time. The following story of Cupid and Psyche is almost identical in both cultures; the most familiar version is found in the Metamorphoses of Apuleius. You have 1 free article left. But something strange happened around the 4th century BCE. He was sometimes portrayed wearing armour like that of Mars, the god of war, perhaps to suggest ironic parallels between warfare and romance or to symbolize the invincibility of love. Valentine ’ s Why that famous Embodiment of desire is a story of great charm, a bow and! Cupid was more of a heartthrob than a cherub Bertel Thorvaldsen ( c. 1770-1844 ), photo by,... Gods and Humans, causing them to fall deeply in love with Psyche despite his mothers jealousy over Psyche beauty! To a well crafted fairytales while remaining realistic and rational has occurred with sign! The Golden Ass. would use his powers to create relationships between people universal... Unique to a well crafted fairytales while remaining realistic and rational are two of the qualities unique a... He took her as his wife, but the editio princeps dates to.... Celebration of love at unsuspecting lovers portrayed on Valentine ’ s Day cards in,... 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Two of the story of Cupid and Psyche was happy until her sisters persuaded to! $ 18.9 billion on gifts to celebrate their love advent of printing press technology at rachel.greenspan @.! Oil from the modern depiction of this god as a naked cherub arrows.