However, in late antiquity, Eros was worshiped by a fertility cult in Thespiae. Ī cult of Eros existed in pre-classical Greece, but it was much less important than that of Aphrodite. Ultimately, in the later satirical poets, he is represented as a blindfolded child, the precursor to the chubby Renaissance Cupid, whereas in early Greek poetry and art, Eros was depicted as a young adult male who embodies sexual power, and a profound artist. In later sources, however, Eros is represented as the son of Aphrodite, whose mischievous interventions in the affairs of gods and mortals cause bonds of love to form, often illicitly. In the earliest sources (the cosmogonies, the earliest philosophers, and texts referring to the mystery religions), he is one of the primordial gods involved in the coming into being of the cosmos. Cult and depiction Įros appears in ancient Greek sources under several different guises. The Greek ἔρως, meaning 'desire', comes from ἔραμαι 'to desire, love', of uncertain etymology. This iteration Eros/Cupid became a major icon and symbol of Valentine's Day. His iconography and role influenced the depiction of Cupid, in addition to Christian tradition. His role in myths is mostly complementary he often appears in the presence of Aphrodite and the other love gods and often acts as a catalyst for people to fall in love, but has little unique mythology of his own the most major exception to that being the myth of Eros and Psyche, the story of how he met and fell in love with his wife.Įros in his Roman equivalent, Cupid, remained popular during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. In both cases, he is winged and carries his signature bow and arrows, which he uses to make both mortals and immortal gods fall in love, usually under the guidance of Aphrodite. He is usually presented as a handsome young man, though in some appearances he is a juvenile boy full of mischief, ever in the company of his mother. In the earliest account, he is a primordial god, while in later accounts he is described as one of the children of Aphrodite and Ares and, with some of his siblings, was one of the Erotes, a group of winged love gods. His Roman counterpart was Cupid ('desire'). In Greek mythology, Eros ( UK: / ˈ ɪər ɒ s, ˈ ɛr ɒ s/, US: / ˈ ɛr ɒ s, ˈ ɛr oʊ s/ Ancient Greek: Ἔρως, romanized: Érōs, lit.'Love, Desire') is the Greek god of love and sex.

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