Michał Pietrzykowski "Mythology of Ancient Greece" - Eros
Eros (roman „Amor”), god of love, was son of Aphrodite
and
Ares (or Hermes) and inseparable companion of goddess
of
beauty. A winged boy, armed with bow and arrows, jester
and
prankster, who had never grown up. Thanks to his love-
arousing arrows Eros had a power over people and gods.
He
didn’t spare anyone - neither Zeus or even his own
mother.
Zeus, predicting his character, wanted to kill him just
after his birth, but Aphrodite saved Eros, hiding him
in
woods. Who had
fallen in love happily and been also
loved –
praised Eros, but those who were enamoured unhappily –
cursed him for being shot with poisonous arrow.
One of the myths says that Eros had himself fallen in
love
with
princess Psyche. It is said that she was so
beautiful
that subjected people prayed to her instead to
Aphrodite.
Offended goddess told her son to make Psyche fall in
love
with the most hideous monster. But when Eros saw her,
he
fell in love himself. He was visiting her every night
and
leaving her in a morning, asking Psyche not to try find
out
who he is.
One night, intrigued princess turned the light on to
see her
lover. Enchanted with his beuaty she unintentionally
miss
one drop of a hot oil on his nude arm. Awaked Eros left
her.
The palace dissapeared and the princesss remained alone
on a
rock. After many trials and sufferings (Aphrodite took
revenge on her, sending down grief, pain and misery)
Psyche
regained love of Eros. Zeus welcomed her to Olimp,
where she
got married with god of love.
Eros attributes: a bow and quiver with arrows, flower,
lyre