Eros and Psyche

According to Hesiod's Theogony, Eros, the divine spirit of Love, sprang forth from Chaos while all was still in confusion. By his beneficent power, he reduced the shapeless, conflicting elements to order and harmony, and under his influence they began to assume distinct forms. This ancient Eros is depicted as a full-grown, very beautiful youth, crowned with flowers and leaning on a shepherd's crook.

Over time, this beautiful conception gradually faded. Though occasional mention continued to be made of the Eros of Chaos, he was replaced by the son of Aphrodite—the popular, mischievous little god of Love so familiar to us all.

In one myth about Eros, Aphrodite complained to Themis that her son, though beautiful, did not seem to grow. Themis suggested his small size might be because he was always alone and advised his mother to give him a companion. Aphrodite gave him his younger brother Anteros (requited love) as a playmate. Soon little Eros began to grow and thrive, but curiously, this only happened when the brothers were together; the moment they separated, Eros shrank back to his original size.

By degrees, the conception of Eros multiplied, and we hear of little love-gods (Amors) appearing in charming and diverse forms. These love-gods, providing artists with inexhaustible subjects for imagination, are shown engaged in various activities—hunting, fishing, rowing, driving chariots, and even busying themselves with mechanical labor.

Perhaps no myth is more charming and interesting than that of Eros and Psyche. Psyche, the youngest of three princesses, was so transcendently beautiful that Aphrodite herself became jealous. No mortal dared to aspire to her hand. While her sisters, who were far less attractive, married, Psyche remained unwed. Her father consulted the oracle of Delphi, and in obedience to the divine response, he had her dressed as for a funeral and led to the edge of a yawning precipice. As soon as she was alone, she felt herself lifted and wafted away by the gentle west wind Zephyrus, who carried her to a verdant meadow. In the midst stood a stately palace surrounded by groves and fountains.

Here dwelt Eros, the god of Love, in whose arms Zephyrus deposited his lovely burden. Eros, unseen himself, wooed her with the softest accents of affection but warned her, as she valued his love, not to try to behold his form. For a while, Psyche obeyed her immortal spouse and did not give in to her natural curiosity. However, in the midst of her happiness, she was seized with an unbearable longing for her sisters. At her desire, Zephyrus brought them to her fairy-like abode. Filled with envy at her joy, they poisoned her mind against her husband, telling her that her unseen lover was a frightful monster. They gave her a sharp dagger and persuaded her to use it to free herself from his power.

After her sisters left, Psyche resolved to follow their malicious counsel. She rose in the dead of night, took a lamp in one hand and a dagger in the other, and crept to the couch where Eros lay sleeping. Instead of the expected monster, she saw the beautiful form of the god of Love. Overcome with surprise and admiration, she bent down to gaze more closely at his lovely features. But from the lamp in her trembling hand, a drop of burning oil fell onto the shoulder of the sleeping god. He awoke instantly and, seeing Psyche standing over him with the dagger, sorrowfully reproached her for her treachery. Then he spread his wings and flew away.

In despair at losing her lover, unhappy Psyche tried to end her life by throwing herself into the nearest river. Instead of closing over her, the waters bore her gently to the opposite bank, where Pan, the god of shepherds, received her and consoled her with hope that she might eventually be reconciled to her husband.

Meanwhile, her wicked sisters, expecting the same good fortune that had befallen Psyche, stood on the edge of the rock but were both thrown into the chasm below.

Psyche herself, filled with restless yearning for her lost love, wandered all over the world searching for him. At last, she appealed to Aphrodite to take pity on her. But the goddess of Beauty, still jealous of her charms, imposed the hardest tasks on her, which often seemed impossible. In these tasks, she was always helped by invisible, beneficent beings sent by Eros, who still loved her and watched over her welfare.

Psyche had to undergo a long and severe penance before she became worthy to regain the happiness she had so foolishly thrown away. Finally, Aphrodite commanded her to go down to the underworld and obtain from Persephone a box containing all the charms of beauty. Psyche's courage failed her, for she thought death must come before she could enter the realm of shades. Just as she was about to give up to despair, she heard a voice that warned her of every danger on her perilous journey and instructed her on precautions to take: not to forget the ferryman's toll for Charon and the cake to pacify Cerberus; to refrain from taking part in the banquets of Hades and Persephone; and, above all, to bring the box of beauty charms unopened to Aphrodite. The voice assured her that following these conditions would ensure her safe return to the light. But alas, Psyche, who had followed all the instructions, could not resist the temptation.

As soon as she left the underworld, unable to contain her curiosity, she raised the lid of the box eagerly. Instead of the wondrous beauty charms she expected, a dense black vapor issued from the casket, throwing her into a death-like sleep. Eros, who had long hovered unseen around her, woke her with the point of one of his golden arrows. He gently reproached her for this second proof of her curiosity and folly. Then, after persuading Aphrodite to be reconciled to his beloved, he induced Zeus to admit her among the immortal gods.

Their reunion was celebrated with rejoicing by all the Olympian deities. The Graces shed perfume on their path, the Hours sprinkled roses across the sky, Apollo added the music of his lyre, and the Muses united their voices in a glad chorus of delight.

This myth seems to be an allegory, signifying that the soul, before it can reunite with its original divine essence, must be purified by the sorrows and sufferings of its earthly life.

Eros is depicted as a lovely boy with rounded limbs and a merry, mischievous expression. He has golden wings, a quiver slung over his shoulder containing his magical and unerring arrows. In one hand he holds his golden bow, and in the other a torch. He is also often shown riding a lion, dolphin, or eagle, or seated in a chariot drawn by stags or wild boars, symbolizing love's power to subdue all nature, even wild animals.

In Rome, Eros was worshipped under the name Amor or Cupid.