She asked her husband if her sisters could come and visit. Her life seemed perfect from the outside but she still felt homesick and lonely. She listened to his wishes and never gazed upon him. Psyche was surprised that he was kind and gentle. He told her that he would only visit at night and that she must never look at him. That night, her new husband visited her in her room. The west wind took her and wafted her away to a palace, where she was waited on by invisible servants. Her parents consulted an oracle, and were told that she was destined to marry a monster, and they were to take her to the top of a mountain and leave her there. She ate magnificent food and was always entertained. She was waited on day and night by invisible servants.

The palace was beautiful and had everything Psyche had ever asked for. Voices whispered in her ear, telling her it was all hers. Psyche waited for a monster to approach her but instead, the west wind lifted her up and carried her to a palace. They did as the oracle said and left their daughter alone on the top of a mountain, believing they would never see her again. They were to take her to the top of a mountain and let fate take its course. They visited an oracle, who told them that their daughter was destined to marry a monster. He instantly fell in love with Psyche.Ī bit of time went by and Psyche’s parents began to become concerned that no one had asked for their daughter’s hand in marriage yet, despite how beautiful she was. The arrow fell to the ground but not before it pricked Cupid’s food. He became flustered and dropped the arrow he was going to shoot at her. Cupid agreed but when he set out to complete his mother’s wishes, he realized just how beautiful Psyche was. She told him to shoot Psyche with an arrow and make her fall in love with a monster. Venus became jealous and asked Cupid to take action. In fact, she was so beautiful that many began to consider her the epitome of love and beauty rather than Venus. She was the youngest and her name was Psyche. There was a king with three beautiful daughters. Cupid and PsycheĬupid himself did fall in love. He grew taller and stronger, into the man he was meant to be.

As time went on, Cupid began to grow quickly. So Venus gave Cupid a brother named Anteros. Themis said that he wouldn’t grow because he was an only child. She complained to Themis, a Titan, and told her about her concerns regarding her Cupid. His mother, Venus, was upset that her son would not grow. One of the more fun myths about Cupid tells the story of his youth. This explains why Cupid was associated with many different types of love, including romantic and erotic. Cupid’s ArrowsĬupid’s arrows are a well-recognized symbol of the god but did you know he has two different types? According to legend, Cupid’s Golden Arrow stood for true love while his Leaden Arrow stood for sensual passion. While most gods truly represent what they reign over, there are not many who do so as well as Cupid. Legends and StoriesĪll of Cupid’s myths revolve around love in some form. The Roman version of the god of desire retained those characteristics, which gives us the Cupid that we all know today. It was said that anyone who was shot by one of Cupid’s arrows, either mortal or a deity, would be filled with uncontrollable desire. It was at this time that he acquired the bow and arrow that remain such a strong symbol today. But during the Hellenistic period, he began to be portrayed as a chubby child. In Greek mythology, Eros was originally depicted as a slender boy with wings.

Throughout the years, Cupid has served as an inspiration for the strongest of all human emotion. You’re sure to spot a representation of Cupid during the days leading up to Valentine’s Day. Today, Cupid is a recognizable figure who inspires romantic love. During the Renaissance, a new interest in classical philosophy gave him complex allegorical meanings. Christian influence changed his nature to both heavenly and earthly love. Cupid was very popular during the Middle Ages.

Cupid time for change