Get to know in detail the legend of Cupid. Discover how he has become a universal icon of love and why he is so popular.
Who is Cupid?
Cupid, meaning “desire” in Latin, was the god of desire, affection and erotic love in Roman mythology. He was usually portrayed as the son of Venus, but his father was never clearly identified. He is considered the Roman counterpart of the Greek god Eros.
Purpose
Cupid was very popular during the Middle Ages. Christian influence changed its nature towards heavenly and earthly love. During the Renaissance, a new interest in classical philosophy gave him complex allegorical meanings. Today, this Roman god is a recognizable figure that inspires romantic love.
You’re sure to see a depiction of Cupid in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day. Over the years, the god of desire has served as inspiration for the strongest of all human emotions.
Origins
In Greek mythology, Eros was originally depicted as a slender boy with wings. But during the Hellenistic period, he began to be portrayed as a chubby boy. It was at this time that he acquired the bow and arrow that remain such a strong symbol today. It was said that anyone who was shot by one of the arrows that is the symbol representing this god of desire, whether mortal or deity, would be filled with uncontrollable desire. The Roman version of the god of desire retained these characteristics, giving us the Cupid we all know today.
Cupid, Legends and Stories
All Cupid myths revolve around love in some way. While most gods truly represent what they reign over, not many do it as well as Cupid.
Arrows
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 represented true love, while the Lead Arrow represented sensual passion. This explains why the god of desire was associated with many different types of love, including romantic and erotic.
Youth Cupid
One of the funniest myths about Cupid is the story of his youth. His mother, Venus, was upset that her son would not grow up. She complained to Themis, a Titan, and told him about her concerns regarding her son. Themis said he would not grow up because he was an only child.
If only he had a brother, he could grow up. So Venus gave Cupid a brother named Anteros. As time passed, Cupid began to grow rapidly. He grew taller and stronger, and became the man he was destined to be.
Cupid and Psyche
Cupid himself fell in love. There was a king with three beautiful daughters. But one was the most beautiful. She was the youngest and her name was Psyche. In fact, she was so beautiful that many began to consider her the epitome of love and beauty instead of Venus.
Venus became jealous and asked Cupid to act. He told him to shoot Psyche with an arrow and make her fall in love with a monster. Cupid agreed, but when he set out to fulfill his mother’s wishes, he realized how beautiful Psyche was.
He became nervous and dropped the arrow he was going to shoot at her. The arrow fell to the ground, but not before pricking Cupid’s food. He instantly fell in love with Psyche. Some time passed and Psyche’s parents began to worry that no one had asked for their daughter’s hand in marriage yet, despite how beautiful she was.
The Oracle
They visited an oracle, who told them that their daughter was destined to marry a monster. He was to take her to the top of a mountain and let fate take its course. They did as the oracle said and left their daughter alone on a mountaintop, believing they would never see her again.
Psyche waited for a monster to approach her, but instead, the west wind lifted her up and carried her to a palace. Voices whispered in her ear, telling her it was all hers. The palace was beautiful and had everything Psyche had asked for. She was waited on day and night by invisible servants. She ate magnificent food and was always entertained.
Her parents consulted an oracle, and were told that she was destined to marry a monster, and that she would be taken to the top of a mountain and left there. The west wind carried her away and carried her to a palace, where she was attended by invisible servants.
Don’t look at me
That night, her new husband visited her in her room. He told her that he would only visit her at night and that she should never look at him. Psyche was surprised that he was kind and gentle. She listened to his wishes and never stared at him. Her life seemed perfect from the outside, but she still felt homesick and lonely. She asked her husband if her sisters could come to visit her. He accepted her request.
When her older sisters saw the magnificent palace and heard how sweet Psyche’s husband was, they became jealous and convinced their sister that she should look at him. They said he was a monster who was taking good care of her because he would eventually eat her. Her only chance of being safe was to kill him.
That night, Psyche grabbed a candle and a knife. For the first time, she looked at her husband, expecting to see a monster. But instead, she saw Cupid and was instantly struck by how handsome he was. She accidentally spilled some wax on Cupid’s shoulder, waking him up.
Cupid was furious. He immediately left the room and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Before leaving, he told Psyche that she would never see him again. The palace disappeared and Psyche was left alone and in darkness. He returned to his sisters and told them what had happened.
Sisters
The sisters pretended to comfort Psyche, but then went to the mountain themselves, hoping that they could take her place. But when they saw that the palace had disappeared, they jumped off the mountain and fell to their deaths.
Psyche searched everywhere for her husband. When she could not find him, she went to Venus and asked for help. Venus was still angry and jealous of Psyche, so she set several impossible tasks for Psyche to complete in order to gain Venus’ help. Cupid found out what his mother was doing and asked Jupiter to put a stop to it.
This is where different variations of the myth disagree. Some say Cupid and Psyche were officially married at the time, while others say they were never married. Either way, Cupid and Psyche found true love with each other.
Cupid Family
Cupid’s father is said to have been Mars, although there is very little evidence to support this. His mother was Venus. Some variations of his myth say he was married, while others say Psyche was only his mistress. Together, they had a daughter named Voluptus.
Appearance
Most artistic depictions of Cupid show him as a chubby, winged boy. He sometimes throws darts or catches a butterfly. He is usually shown with his mother. There are very few depictions of him as an adult, but we know he was quite handsome.
Symbology
Cupid’s symbols include his famous bow and arrow. The lyre is also a symbol of his joy. Because he is the god of desire and has permanent links to love in pop culture, other symbols include roses and doves.
