Who's Cupid?

Love is a complex feeling. You can't see it, but you can definitely feel it when it takes over your soul and fills your thoughts. This complexity made the Greeks and Romans come up with a solution to explain this curious phenomenon.

And as usual, this explanation came about through mythology. And that's how the story of Cupid, known as a winged baby with heart arrows, who makes people fall in love, came about. However, what many people don't know is that this is just one version of Cupid.

In fact, some authors describe him as a beautiful young adult and he has even fallen in love with a mortal. If you were curious to know the details of the god of Love, this article was tailor-made to satisfy your curiosity, so read on!

History of Cupid

Want to know where the young man with wings and bow came from? Keep reading, in this part of the article you will find out all about the myth of the god of Love.

In Greek mythology

The Greeks have always used mythology to explain all phenomena that were beyond human comprehension. And for them, love was one of these issues, seen as an energy that united two beings in a cosmic attraction.

And seeking to explain this act, the poet Hesiod, in the seventh century BC, portrayed this feeling as the god Eros, as Cupid is known in Greek mythology. Fruit of the relationship between the goddess of beauty Aphrodite and the god of war Ares, Eros was the deity responsible for spreading love between gods and mortals.

In some works, Cupid is represented by a childish figure with wings and arrows. However, his Greek version is depicted as a grown man, sensual and with a strong erotic charm.

In Roman mythology

Just as in Greek mythology, in Roman mythology Cupid is presented as the son of the god of war, Mars, and the goddess of beauty, Venus. With the figure of a young boy who with his bow and arrow hit the hearts of gods and men, making passion bloom there.

However, before his birth, the god of the gods, Jupiter, ordered Venus to get rid of her child. Knowing the power that this child would have, Jupiter thought that this was the only way to protect humanity from the problems that Cupid could cause.

Venus, on the other hand, did not see her son as a threat, so she hid him in a forest to keep him safe until he grew up. Even with his reputation as clumsy and insensitive, Cupid was seen by many as the main benefactor of those in love, awakening happiness in their hearts.

Cupid and Psyche

Psyche was the youngest daughter of three sisters of a couple of kings from a distant kingdom. She had two older sisters, described as beautiful women, however, the beauty of the youngest was disconcerting, causing all men to have eyes only for her. Which made the goddess Venus jealous.

At the height of her jealousy, the goddess of beauty ordered her son, Cupid, to curse the young girl by shooting one of his arrows so that she would fall in love with the ugliest man on the face of the earth.

However, the plan did not turn out as expected, since Cupid accidentally hit himself with one of his own arrows, causing him to fall in love with Psyche. Thus, beginning a troubled love story.

Oil unmasks a god

The paths of Psyche and Cupid soon cross again. As the young girl was still single at a certain age, her parents decided to consult the Oracle, to help with the situation. And the solution was to send Psyche to live with a monster on top of a mountain. The monster in question was Cupid himself.

The young man asks his beloved never to turn on the lights in the place. However, even being treated well by the monster/Cupid, her sisters manage to convince her to try to put an end to his life. And then, with a lamp, she lights up the cave, thus discovering the true identity of her jailer.

Feeling betrayed, without thinking Psyche takes one of Cupid's arrows, ready to kill him, but accidentally stabs herself with the weapon and ends up falling in love with the boy with wings. Cupid awakens with the drop of oil that fell on him from the lamp and realizing that his beloved has betrayed his trust, he leaves the cave promising himself that he would never return.

The tasks of Venus

In love and feeling desolate without her beloved, Psyche begins her search for Cupid. Unsuccessful, she decides to visit the temple of the goddess Ceres in search of a solution. At the temple, the goddess of plants reveals that the young girl will have to face three challenges proposed by the boy's mother, the goddess Venus.

Determined to win back her great love, Psyche accepts. The first challenge was to separate a quantity of grains in a pile as quickly as possible. The second was for the young woman to steal the wool from a golden sheep. And the third, the most challenging, consists of a journey to the underworld.

On this journey, Psyche would have to take a crystal box to Proserpine, so that the goddess would keep some of her beauty in the container. However, the challenge commanded her not to open the box under any circumstances, but the young girl's curiosity made her break this rule, and with that Psyche fell into an eternal sleep.

Knowing this, Cupid's heart softened for his beloved and he begged his mother, Venus, to undo the curse. The goddess of beauty granted his son's request. As soon as Psyche awakened, she and Cupid married, and consequently the young woman became immortal. And to complete the happy ending of the lovers, they had a daughter named Pleasure and lived together for all eternity.

The author of the myth of Cupid and Psyche

Lucius Apuleius is the name responsible for the love story between Cupid and Psyche. An African Roman who lived during the 2nd century A.D. Using his gift of words, he gave life to this daring myth, which aimed to address the enchantments behind the love between a god and a mortal.

The plot of the book revolves around the character Lucio, who accidentally transforms into a donkey because of a spell that went wrong. The story of Cupid and Psyche alludes to Lucio's hope to reverse the spell that cursed him to this animal-like figure.

The myth of Cupid and Psyche as a reference to other tales

The work of Lucius inspired several works, for example, it is possible to find elements of the story of Cupid and Psyche in the works of Shakespeare. For example, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by the author, since the plot relates that the love problems of the characters - Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius, and Titania and Oberon were only solved because of magic.

In addition, some fairy tales also had their roots taken from Apuleius' creation, such as "Beauty and the Beast" and "Cinderella". In both stories, the characters can only find their happy ending after breaking a curse, thus involving the magical element that sustains the myth.

A God and a Mortal

Normally mortals are the victims of Cupid's arrows, but that doesn't mean the boy doesn't stir the hearts of the gods. And one of the immortals who has already been arrowed by the god of love was Apollo himself, the god of the Sun.

The psychology of Cupid and Psyche

In the middle of the 20th century, the psychologist and one of Carl Jung's most talented sons, Erich Neumann, established a connection between the myth of Cupid and Psyche, with the female psychological development. In his study, he pointed out to believe that for a woman to reach a total spirituality, she should accept the nature of man and his inner monster, an unconditional love.

However, at the end of the 20th century, the American psychologist Phyllis Katz, pointed out that the myth has more to do with sexual tension. A conflict between men and women and their natures, which is mediated through marriage, in a kind of ritual.

Cupid Syncretism

Although the Greek and Roman mythologies are the best known, other beliefs have their own version of the boy with bow and arrow wings. And in this part of the article, we have separated some versions of love deities, see below.

Angus in Celtic mythology

Son of Boann with his lover Dagda, Angus Mac Oc or the youngest son as he is also known in Celtic mythology. He is the god of youth, love and beauty. He was responsible for helping soul mates meet.

And with her golden harp, she produced a harmonious and seductive melody. In myths it is said that her kisses could transform into birds that carry messages of love for the Earth.

Kamadeva in Hindu mythology

Son of Bhrama, god creator of the universe, Kamadeva is the Hindu god of love. Portrayed as a man carrying a bow and arrow, like Cupid, he was responsible for awakening love in men.

However, his preferred targets were young and innocent maidens, as well as married women, and he was usually accompanied by beautiful nymphs during his missions.

Freya in Norse mythology

In Norse mythology, Freya is the goddess who belonged to the fertility group. Daughter of the sea god Njord and the giant Skadir, had as skills her strength, wisdom and uses her beauty to charm others to get what she wants.

Freya was also considered the goddess of sex, and with a somewhat rare gift, her tears were transformed into amber or gold. In addition, being leader of the Valkyries, she held the gift of leading the way to the souls of soldiers who died in battle.

Inanna in Sumerian mythology

Inanna is the Mesopotamian goddess of love, eroticism, fecundity and fertility. Present in many myths of the Sumerian mythology, being one of them, the myth that she would have stolen the month, representation of the good and bad side of the civilization of the god of wisdom, Enqui. It was also believed that she dominated the body of other deities.

Hathor in Egyptian mythology

Hathor the Egyptian goddess of fertility, joy, music, dance and beauty. Her name has meaning from the house of Horus, a god of the heavens and the Egyptian living. Some myths show that the goddess was not always seen in a good light by the people of Ancient Egypt.

Actually, in some myths, Hathor was considered the goddess of destruction when the sun god, Ra, asked her to devour all humans, a task that the goddess gladly performed. In other stories, Hathor is referred to as Ra's mother, being responsible for giving birth to him every morning. This is her most famous representation.

Sympathies to call for cupid

If your love life needs a little push, be sure to read what we have prepared for you. In this part of the article, you will learn how to ask for Cupid's help, check it out!

Love Angel Sympathy

For the love angel charm, you will need a red pen and a red envelope. On a piece of paper, write a letter to Cupid, asking him to help you find your better half and don't forget to sign your name at the end. Put the letter inside the envelope and write "To Cupid".

Then, you should keep this envelope in the bottom of your underwear drawer. Leave it there until your soulmate finds you. When that happens, tear up and throw away the letter and thank the angel for his help.

Sympathy to find a new love

For the sympathy to find a new love you will need two red candles and a saucer. Put the candles on top of the saucer and light them, beside, you should put a letter written on white paper and red pen. This letter should contain all your love wishes.

Then, choose a prayer of your choice and offer the card to Cupid. When the candle flames are gone, together with the card, throw them away.

Prayer to ask for help to cupid

To pray for cupid, you should recite the following prayer:

"Angel Cupid, sublime, integral, full force, represented by the magic and energy of Love, You who know the supreme glory of Divine love, help me to conquer true love for my life and make my heart palpitate again with joy.

You know all my earthly needs (make a request), make my days of loneliness and sadness end in my soul in the most perfect harmony, inner peace and balance.

Help me to feel true love for someone and also to be reciprocated by him. Above all, teach me to love, how to be loved and to respect this feeling so pure, divine and magical in the life of a human being.

I pray to you, that no one gets hurt, that is the conquest of a true love, sincere, authentic, genuine for both parties. Enlighten my soul with a little of your intelligence, wisdom and feeling of love and to get rid of any kind of negative energy that is hindering my love journey.

And already confident in the success of my request, may this love be declared, strengthened by the magic of charm, may it be multiplied by two hearts, may it be an intense energy of passion, integrity aggregated to emotional and spiritual wisdom and, above all, the magic of fidelity be present at all times.

I also ask you, Cupid Angel, to protect us, to support us in all situations experienced, in all difficulties, challenges, to make your blessing, your glory, your inspiration, your light count. May we also be covered by the mantle of the Virgin Mary and may this prayer definitely open the infinite doors of loving prosperity.

I deposit this prayer in your Divine hands, Angel Cupid, in the certainty that I shall soon be answered. so be it. gratitude. amen!"

Why is Cupid a symbol of love?

The answer is simple, Cupid, especially in Roman mythology, is the personification of the desire to love. Therefore, it is the main factor of why he became a symbol of love, since he is also responsible for making people fall madly in love.

His image depends a lot on the source of his myth, currently, the god of love is represented by a winged angelic boy with a bow on arrows, whereas in Greek mythology, he is known as the god Eros and is described as a grown, handsome man.

However, in all its facets, the charm of Cupid's face has the purpose of referring to the beauty that exists in the love that he awakens in the hearts of those in love.